Was they’re any sense in using HS2 for Northern Powerhouse Rail ?

With the news that High Speed 2 will now not reach Manchester on dedicated tracks but will carry on above Birmingham on existing tracks, whilst still fulfilling it's original objective of increasing capacity upon the lower half of the West Coast Mainline, was there any sense in combining HS2 with Northern Powerhouse Rail ? As...

Can damage to Manchester be avoided ?

According to Manchester City Council, if HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail goes ahead as planned “part of Manchester will be cut off and blighted forever” as two separate concrete viaducts will have to be constructed for HS2 and NPR. [1] Whilst the length of the proposed HS2 viaduct is approximately only a mile in length,...

Will HS2 have onboard Catering ?

The East Coast Experience Talk and politics surrounding HS2 has very much been about the chosen route, the destinations it serves and those protesting its construction, very little has been about what these trains will be like for the end user. Will they have level boarding to make it easier for everyone when boarding or...

Why not extend HS2 study to include Bradford ?

With a £100 million to be spent on a new study to find out the best way HS2 should reach Leeds and the start of West Yorkshire Mass transit, once the secretary of state for the department for transport has published terms of reference, why not expand this survey and explore options as to how...

Can a new station for Leeds be justified ?

With the government looking at the best way to bring HS2 to Leeds and with it being reported that the proposed HS2 station on Leeds South Bank may still be on the table, can such a new station be justified ? Whilst the estimated cost of this proposed station is unclear, refurbishing London Euston has...

Is the ‘Integrated Rail Plan’ a betrayal ?

The publication of the Integrated Rail Plan in late 2021 unsurprisingly caused political outrage, clearly it was never going to propose on delivering HS2 as previously planned especially when the National Infrastructure Commission has already warned that “there is not enough money for all the proposed major rail schemes in the Midlands and the North,...

What will happen to the WCML, the ECML & MML post HS2 ?

HS2 Limited, the company behind this multi-billion pound project has claimed that “HS2 is a brand new, low carbon, railway also providing an upgrade of the West Coast, East Coast and Midlands Mainlines - four railways for the price of one.” [1] but what will happen to these lines POST HS2? HS2 is supposedly about...

Will HS2 connect Leeds and Glasgow ?

HS2 Limited, has claimed that it "will provide fast, frequent and reliable travel from Glasgow and Edinburgh to other cities and towns in the UK" this is expected to generate more business, investment and employment opportunities for Scotland. [1] However they're is one major city that currently has no direct rail service to both Glasgow...

How should HS2 serve the Midlands?

It has been claimed that “HS2 fails to inspire across the Midlands”, this claim supported by a YouGov Poll where 26% are supportive of the project and 52% believe in increasing capacity between the Midlands and London. [1] Recently it has been claimed that reinstating the former Great Central Railway, would be a cheaper alternative...

Should ‘Doncaster Sheffield Airport’ have a STOP on HS2?

The Sheffield City Region has published its own ‘Integrated Rail Plan’.[1] This plan proposes many improvements to the rail network from upgrading rail lines to tram trains and brand new stations, in particular the much aspired station at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, served by a link from the East Coast Mainline. Although this may sound like...