High Speed Lines are now the backbone of domestic inter city transport in Japan and major European countries including France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Brussels is linked by ICE to Germany (above), Thalys to Paris, and 186 mph Eurostar to London.

British domestic train speeds have remained at 125 mph since the introduction of HSTs in 1976.  Pendolinos on the West Coast Main Line (above) now can reach Glasgow from London in 4 hours 10 minutes. Higher speeds are needed to cut journeys to 3 hours.

 

High Speed Rail

 

Major European countries and Japan have developed extensive networks of High Speed Lines supporting train speeds of 186 mph or more. These are electrically powered, which brings two major advantages:

•   Cuts CO2 emissions compared with flying

•   Avoids the high risk  from future oil price and supply uncertainties

 

In Britain, the Conservative Party is committed to a High Speed Line (HSL) from London via Birmingham and Manchester to Leeds, partly as an alternative to expanding Heathrow Airport. The Greengauge 21 organisation is also undertaking a study of a London-Birmingham-Trent Valley HSL.  The Government has now also set up an “HS2” company to investigate options for an HSL via a Heathrow Hub. Network Rail is interested in developing an HSL as a way of providing extra capacity for growth on the busy West Coast Main Line.

SAPT is a founder member of the HS2-S (High Speed to Scotland) collaboration. Our target is to reduce over-dependence on aviation for domestic journeys between Central Scotland and English centres including London (in 2008 air’s market share was around 85% from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London, compared with only around 30% from Paris to London). To achieve rail journey times of 3 hours or less from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London, a direct 200 mph North/South HSL is needed from London to the North of England, linked to new sections of HSL and upgraded track in Scotland.