Renton 22343 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Plans for a new high-speed rail network, featuring 250mph trains, have been announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis. A White Paper is recommending a route for a new line between London and Birmingham with a future extension to northern England and Scotland. The public will be consulted on the proposed route, with work unlikely to start until 2017 at the earliest. Network Rail said high-speed rail "can drive economic growth and boost jobs". Lord Adonis told the House of Lords that "extensive and detailed" consultation would be needed on the project, particularly with any communities which might be affected. "Subject to this consultation, the London terminus for the high-speed line would be Euston, the Birmingham city centre station would be at Curzon Street, and there would be interchange stations with Crossrail west of Paddington and near Birmingham airport." Like many people, we're yet to be convinced that the overall business case for HS2 - the high-speed line - stacks up environmentally, financially and socially Patrick Begg, National Trust The main opposition parties are also committed, in principle, to the need for a high-speed rail network. However, reaching the necessary political consensus for a particular route may prove to be difficult ahead of the general election. Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said high-speed rail was "a vital part of a modern, dynamic economy". He also said that it would "take cars and lorries off the road, cut domestic flights and release capacity on the existing rail network, transforming services even for those communities not served directly by a high-speed line. "It is the low-carbon, sustainable transport of the future." Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said: "The commitment that all three parties have shown to HSR [high-speed rail] is a vote of confidence in the industry, and will help place train travel at the heart of a successful low-carbon economy. Public consultation "The plans must be affordable at a time of real constraint in the public finances and must show how HSR will be paid for while continuing to invest in the existing network on which passengers make more than a billion journeys a year." For the past year, the government-backed company High Speed Two has been working on plans to develop a new high-speed rail network, initially between London and Birmingham. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme The new line could cut the journey time between the cities to just 46 minutes. Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, said: "We welcome any move to expand the rail network and to bring more passengers on to the trains. "However, development of HSR in the UK has been left in the slow lane because of our fragmented, privatised system which puts short-term profits first and long-term, strategic planning a very poor second." Environmental impact Patrick Begg, director for the National Trust's Thames and Solent region, said the proposed route could cause "serious and significant impacts on the landscape" of the Chilterns. He added: "We're taking a keen interest in how these impacts have been considered and assessed, particularly exploring the government's proposals for mitigating against these impacts through design and tunnelling. "Like many people, we're yet to be convinced that the overall business case for HS2 - the high-speed line - stacks up environmentally, financially and socially." Geraldine Nicholson, the chairwoman of No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG), which is opposed to Heathrow Airport expansion, said: "If the government thought it was going to get plaudits from us for its plans, it is sorely mistaken. "What we want to see is an HSR scheme that goes all the way to Scotland, a scheme that is designed to make it easy for people to use the train instead of the plane. "We will oppose any scheme that does not involve the dropping of the third runway." From the Beeb. What it doesn't say in that article, but has just said on the mid day news, is that the link will end at Leeds. So, if you're travelling to London from Newcastle it seems you're going to have to change trains at Leeds. Fantastic. Not wanting to sound like a metro-hating mackem, but why should people from the North East and Scotland, or West country and Wales, pay money from their taxes for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Well, I don't see it as a bad thing really. It'll still mean it's quicker getting to London from Newcastle even if you do have to change at Leeds. Also, there's surely a possibility it'll be extended at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Well, I don't see it as a bad thing really. It'll still mean it's quicker getting to London from Newcastle even if you do have to change at Leeds. Also, there's surely a possibility it'll be extended at some point. My understand is that the 20 year plan will be to extend it all the way to Edinburg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22343 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 Well, I don't see it as a bad thing really. It'll still mean it's quicker getting to London from Newcastle even if you do have to change at Leeds. Also, there's surely a possibility it'll be extended at some point. My understand is that the 20 year plan will be to extend it all the way to Edinburg. That's what I thought but the news today contradicted it. Anyway, given that it took 17 years for them to build the Eurostar line (all 70 miles of it) I expect I'll be dead before I benefit from this. We're a country full of Nimbys. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for high speed rail travel, but if the line doesn't extend to Newcastle and Edinburgh we will suffer economically compared to the served cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 How long currently does it take to get to Leeds from Newcastle(by train)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 How long currently does it take to get to Leeds from Newcastle(by train)? About an hour I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22343 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 How long currently does it take to get to Leeds from Newcastle(by train)? About an hour and a half I think if you go direct on transpennine express (the Manchester airport one). Longer if you change at York. I expect this would be speeded up significantly but I'd rather not change trains wherever possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4915 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Going to sound old fashioned but it just doesn't seem right going upto 250 mph on a train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Going to sound old fashioned but it just doesn't seem right going upto 250 mph on a train. I reckon it'll be that fast people won't be able to breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 They'll have problems breathing as well apparently. [/Alex] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 They'll have problems breathing as well apparently. [/Alex] Like not being able to breath you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22343 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 So a saving of a half an hour. Hardly inspiring is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffidae 0 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 10 to 20 years ago I use to get the Newcastle to Kings Cross train and it would be a 2 hr 40 min journey, It’s never been the same since the line repairs malarky. Progress eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Plans for a new high-speed rail network, featuring 250mph trains, have been announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis. A White Paper is recommending a route for a new line between London and Birmingham with a future extension to northern England and Scotland. The public will be consulted on the proposed route, with work unlikely to start until 2017 at the earliest. Network Rail said high-speed rail "can drive economic growth and boost jobs". Lord Adonis told the House of Lords that "extensive and detailed" consultation would be needed on the project, particularly with any communities which might be affected. "Subject to this consultation, the London terminus for the high-speed line would be Euston, the Birmingham city centre station would be at Curzon Street, and there would be interchange stations with Crossrail west of Paddington and near Birmingham airport." Like many people, we're yet to be convinced that the overall business case for HS2 - the high-speed line - stacks up environmentally, financially and socially Patrick Begg, National Trust The main opposition parties are also committed, in principle, to the need for a high-speed rail network. However, reaching the necessary political consensus for a particular route may prove to be difficult ahead of the general election. Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said high-speed rail was "a vital part of a modern, dynamic economy". He also said that it would "take cars and lorries off the road, cut domestic flights and release capacity on the existing rail network, transforming services even for those communities not served directly by a high-speed line. "It is the low-carbon, sustainable transport of the future." Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said: "The commitment that all three parties have shown to HSR [high-speed rail] is a vote of confidence in the industry, and will help place train travel at the heart of a successful low-carbon economy. Public consultation "The plans must be affordable at a time of real constraint in the public finances and must show how HSR will be paid for while continuing to invest in the existing network on which passengers make more than a billion journeys a year." For the past year, the government-backed company High Speed Two has been working on plans to develop a new high-speed rail network, initially between London and Birmingham. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme The new line could cut the journey time between the cities to just 46 minutes. Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, said: "We welcome any move to expand the rail network and to bring more passengers on to the trains. "However, development of HSR in the UK has been left in the slow lane because of our fragmented, privatised system which puts short-term profits first and long-term, strategic planning a very poor second." Environmental impact Patrick Begg, director for the National Trust's Thames and Solent region, said the proposed route could cause "serious and significant impacts on the landscape" of the Chilterns. He added: "We're taking a keen interest in how these impacts have been considered and assessed, particularly exploring the government's proposals for mitigating against these impacts through design and tunnelling. "Like many people, we're yet to be convinced that the overall business case for HS2 - the high-speed line - stacks up environmentally, financially and socially." Geraldine Nicholson, the chairwoman of No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG), which is opposed to Heathrow Airport expansion, said: "If the government thought it was going to get plaudits from us for its plans, it is sorely mistaken. "What we want to see is an HSR scheme that goes all the way to Scotland, a scheme that is designed to make it easy for people to use the train instead of the plane. "We will oppose any scheme that does not involve the dropping of the third runway." From the Beeb. What it doesn't say in that article, but has just said on the mid day news, is that the link will end at Leeds. So, if you're travelling to London from Newcastle it seems you're going to have to change trains at Leeds. Fantastic. Not wanting to sound like a metro-hating mackem, but why should people from the North East and Scotland, or West country and Wales, pay money from their taxes for this? Are you sure you'll have to change trains at Leeds? Won't it just join the existing main line from there north? Lord Adonis is the most inappropriately named person of all time btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22343 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 Are you sure you'll have to change trains at Leeds? Won't it just join the existing main line from there north? I would have thought the high speed track would have to have its own high speed trains? East coast trains can't run on the eurostar/TGV line as far as I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Hope they get Jimmy Saville to promote it and revamp the age of the train song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 They'll have problems breathing as well apparently. [/Alex] Like not being able to breath you mean? It will scare m' horses as well................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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