HighSpeedRailGroupcallsfor HS2to continueto Scotland
JOURNEtYimes betweenLondon andScotland'stwo biggestcities could be reducedto slightly morethan three hoursaccording to a new report by Greengauge 21,on behalfof the HighSpeed RailGroup(HSRG).
Usinga combinationof High Speed2 (HS2)n, ew'cut-off' high-speedlinesand upgrades of currentroutes,classiccompatiblehigh-speedtrains couldslashmorethan one hour from schedulesbetweenLondon, Edinburghand Glasgow.
Thereportsaysthe constructionof new high-speed linesbetweenRutherglen and Carstairsand between Oxenholmeand Lancasterp, lusa possiblecut-offto avoidPenrith, would savealmost30 minutes overthe currentWestCoastMain Linetimetable and createextra capacity.
Otherrecommendations includea fast,segregated approachrouteat Glasgow Centraland the creationof 400-metre-longplatformsto accommodateHStrains;dynamic freight loopsbetweenCarstairs, CarlisleandTebayf;aster approachroutesand station modernisationat Carlisleand Prestona; nd resignallingwith ETCSnorth of Creweto further increasecapacity.
Ambitious
BetweenWiganand Crewe, trainsareexpectedto use either HS2Phase2b, planned for completionby 2040,or an upgradedWCML.
An ambitiousprogrammeof enhancementsisalsoproposed for the EastCoastMain Line, includinga new HSline south of Edinburgh;improvementsat EdinburghWaverleyN, ewcastle, DarlingtonandYorkto provide fasterapproachroutesand 400metre-longplatforms;dynamic freight loopsbetweenEdinburgh and Newcastlea; nd the constructionof fully segregated freight/regionalpassengelrines betweenPeterboroughand Newcastle.
Awayfrom the main routes, the reportalsocallsfor further electrificationin Scotland, includingnorth from Stirlingto Perth,InvernessD, undeeand Aberdeent;he completionof the BordersRailwaythrough to Carlislea; nd advanceplanning for the possiblereinstatementof the Dumfriesto Stranraer'Port Road'ifa proposedScotlandto NorthernIrelandtunnel goes ahead.
Southof the border, Greengauge21 alsoproposes the electrificationof the Carnforthto Barrow-in-Furness andOxenholmeto Windermere routes,with the aim of
Essential
Thereport'sauthorJimSteer said:"Asthe UKbeginsto emerge from Covid-19t,he focuson a greenrecoveryisessential. "Overthe pasttwo months we haveall seenthe positive impacton air qualityandthe environment.
"Whilewe now focuson our economicrecoveryw, e cannot losesight of the carbon-cutting goalswe havesetourselves.
"Astransportis now the largest contributorto the UK'semissions, the sectorhasa duty to act quicklyand decisivelyto reduce them:'