Use spare capacity to build HS2 connections south

Industry Insider is right to highlight the issue of HS2 integration with the established national rail network ( RAIL 839).

However, while he discusses options for classic compatible high-speed trains to operate services to locations beyond the HS2 line in the north of England, he fails to make mention of the opportunities for regional cities south of Birmingham to also benefit from HS2.

A clear opportunity exists to make use of the spare capacity that will exist on the Phase 2 HS2 lines north of Birmingham to operate upgraded CrossCountry franchise services from Leeds and Manchester to Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth.

By using the HS2 lines, journey times on such services would be considerably shortened (perhaps by up to 50 minutes) and represent added significant benefits to HS2.

The missing link needed to allow high-speed CrossCountry services via Birmingham is a connection between the new HS2 line into Birmingham Curzon Street and the existing adjacent Network Rail lines.

Such a link could readily be made by adding connecting chords at Duddeston Mill Road, where the new HS2 lines will run immediately adjacent to existing lines into Birmingham New Street. Rather than be routed in Curzon Street, 200-metre CrossCountry high-speed trains from the North would be routed onto the classic lines into Birmingham New Street before continuing south.

To operate such services, trains such as the new bi-mode Class 800 trains would be able to run both on the HS2 Phase 2 lines and the non-electrified lines south of Birmingham.

Given that the DfT is still under pressure to show that the HS2 project will provide an adequate Benefit: Cost Ratio, opportunities such as high-speed CrossCountry services spreading that benefits more widely across the UK should be seized upon.