HS1 – CONNECTING TO – HS2 – A PIPE DREAM?

When HS2 was planned, there was always the option of connecting HS1 with HS2 in the centre of London. However, on grounds of cost it was decided not to include such a link when the HS2 route was finally agreed in Parliament. When HS1 reached London St Pancras in 2007, a connection had already been built from HS1 to the current West Coast main line.

Given the outrageous cost over-runs just for building a “truncated” HS2 from London to Birmingham, you might think that reviving such a link is a non-starter. However, Kayla Bibby -an Independent Traffic Planner thinks otherwise and has drawn up a plan. Tunnelling of the final section from Old Oak Common to Euston has only just begun and no final plan has been agreed for London Euston. She argues that there is still time to build this link as part of the Euston works for a cost of just £1.4 Billion – this is a small sum compared to the up to £90 billion total cost of building HS2. Opening up this link would make better use of HS2, as not just a London-Birmingham Shuttle but a strategic link from the Midlands and North to the expanding European High-Speed Network. Not building this link would relegate the UK to just remaining as a High-Speed branch-line from Lille. This is a plan for the long-term benefit of the UK economy and would help Liverpool & Manchester’s joint bid for the 2040 Olympics.

We strongly recommend that you have a look at her plan here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hs1hs2-connector-how-single-link-transforms-depots-services-bibby-jahfe/

EPF CONFERENCE 5th -6th JUNE in MAASTRICHT >>>>

Every Year the European Passenger Federation holds an Annual Conference in June. Last year it came to Swindon in the UK and this year it moves to The Netherlands. As many of you know, our campaign is one of 40+ EPF member organisations from 21 different countries. If you are a member of our campaign you can go to the conference for the much-reduced fee of 100 Euros – not bad for a 2-day conference?

To find out more about registration and the programme see here: epfconference.eu