HS2: The Key Points
HS2 – The Key Points
The high speed line will be built in two phases. The first will see construction of a new 140-mile line between London and Birmingham by 2026.
The second phase will see lines built from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester by 2033. A formal consultation on second phase routes will begin in early 2014 with a final route chosen by the end of 2014.
The first phase of HS2 will include a connection to Europe via the Channel Tunnel. On completion of HS2 the network will include a direct link to Heathrow Airport.
The Government has said:
• HS2 will increase dramatically passenger capacity along the UK’s key transport corridors with up to 26,000 extra passenger seats running each hour. This will relieve congestion on existing intercity routes as well as roads and air routes.
• HS2 will mean very substantial time savings between Britain’s cities, reducing a Birmingham to Leeds journey from 2 hours to just 57 minutes and a Manchester to London journey from 2 hours 8 minutes to only 1 hour 8 minutes. Birmingham to London journeys will be almost halved from 1 hour 24 minutes to 45 minutes, 4 minutes less than the fastest 49 minute service featured in the consultation.
• Even cities and towns off the HS2 network – like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Preston, Wigan, Lancaster, Newcastle, Darlington, York and Durham – will be served by high speed trains able to use both HS2 and existing intercity lines seamlessly to save up to an hour on journeys to London.
• HS2 will effectively act as a rail ‘motorway’ network offering greater capacity and speed while not restricting train services to stations on the HS2 network.
• There are no credible alternatives to a new railway line. Network Rail has judged that alternative packages of rail upgrades and improvement on existing lines are no substitute to the long-term and sustainable capacity increase that HS2 provides.
• A high speed line will deliver £6.2bn more of economic benefits than a line running at conventional speed – and around £3.5bn more revenues – at a cost of only £3bn more than building a conventional speed equivalent. HS2 will cost a total of £32.7bn.
• The benefit cost ratio (including wider economic benefits) for HS2 is £1.80-2.50 benefits for every £1 spent on the cost of the project. The BCR has been revised downwards slightly due to the current economic climate but is still said to be “convincing”.
• A commitment to reducing the effects of HS2 will see 79 miles of the 140-mile line between London and Birmingham running in tunnels or cuttings.
• HS2 runs through 13 miles of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) but fresh mitigation measures mean less than two miles will be at or above surface level.
• HS2 is set to will benefit rail, road and air users. It will free up capacity on existing rail routes for more commuter, regional and freight services. It will take an estimated 9m journeys off the road network and cut up to 4.5m air journeys each year.
• The new network will carry up to 18 trains per hour. Each train will be up to 400 metres long with 1,100 seats, travelling at speeds of up to 250mph. Double decker trains could be introduced to run on the HS2 network and would be compatible with HS1 and the Channel Tunnel. Services using HS2 and existing rail lines will use standard-size non-double decker high speed trains.
• Tens of thousands of new jobs will be created and land around stations at Birmingham Eastside and Old Oak Common in West London will be regenerated.
Delivering HS2
To ensure its benefits can be realised at the earliest opportunity, the Y‑network will be delivered in two phases: Phase one will deliver the London to West Midlands line with a link to Europe via High Speed 1, and phase two will extend the line to Manchester and Leeds and Heathrow airport. High speed trains would be able to continue on existing lines to serve areas not on the dedicated high speed lines.
Approval to construct the first phase will be sought through a hybrid bill in Parliament – giving those affected by the decision the chance to petition Parliament.
High Speed Rail: The Timetable
Spring 2012 – Public consultation on blight proposals
Spring 2012 – Consultation with statutory bodies on the safeguarding zone for phase 1
Spring 2012 – Government receives HS2 Ltd advice on phase 2 route options
Spring 2012 – Engagement programme along phase 1 route on Environmental Impact Assessment issues
Autumn 2012 – New blight scheme and safeguarding zone in place
Autumn 2012 – Engagement programme on phase 2 preferred route, to discuss local views and concerns
Spring 2013 – Consultation on Environmental Statement for phase 1
End of 2013 – Introduction of a hybrid bill to provide necessary powers to construct and operate phase 1 of the railway.
Early 2014 – Consultation on preferred route for phase 2
Late 2014 – Government’s announcement of the chosen route for phase 2
May 2015 – Hybrid bill is put through Parliament
