RAIL - Network Rail's Coucher Calls for 300KPH Railway Lines

Network Rail is starting development work on a system of high-speed
lines for Britain.

Ian Coucher says, " I really hope that by 2020, given the way
passenger demand is, the environmental pressure to get out of cars,
out of planes, and on to trains, we'll be able to justify faster inter-
city express trains on high speed lines.

The current WCML is expected to fill up by 2014.

It is for Government to decide these things and how they should be
financed (private or public) but the success of even 125mph services
from Manchester to London in attracting passengers from the airlines
and, what is now becoming clear, the astounding success of HS1 to the
Channel Tunnel means the case has been virtually made for more high
speed railways.

Initial development would see a new line from London to Birmingham
then extension to Manchester, Leeds and Scotland.

I think COUCHer will also need to call for a more substantial SOFA?

--
gordon

In message
<c9679393-282e-46b9-a90d-6cca1f213b83@j20g2000hsi..com>,
allan tracy <thunderbird57303@m> writes

>Ian Coucher says, " I really hope that by 2020, given the way
>passenger demand is, the environmental pressure to get out of cars,
>out of planes, and on to trains, we'll be able to justify faster inter-
>city express trains on high speed lines.

But high speed rail has comparable CO2 emissions to air travel and worse
than cars.

--
Steve Walker

In article <QzSroAHZ4auHFw34@otolith.>,
Steve Walker <steve@otolith.> wrote:

> In message
> <c9679393-282e-46b9-a90d-6cca1f213b83@j20g2000hsi..com>,
> allan tracy <thunderbird57303@m> writes
>
> >Ian Coucher says, " I really hope that by 2020, given the way
> >passenger demand is, the environmental pressure to get out of cars,
> >out of planes, and on to trains, we'll be able to justify faster inter-
> >city express trains on high speed lines.
>
> But high speed rail has comparable CO2 emissions to air travel and worse
> than cars.

I can't help thinking that points are being missed here. If we want to
reduce carbon emissions then we should find ways to stop people from
needing to travel so much.

Sam

Steve Walker wrote:
> In message
> <c9679393-282e-46b9-a90d-6cca1f213b83@j20g2000hsi..com>,
> allan tracy <thunderbird57303@m> writes
>
>> Ian Coucher says, " I really hope that by 2020, given the way
>> passenger demand is, the environmental pressure to get out of cars,
>> out of planes, and on to trains, we'll be able to justify faster inter-
>> city express trains on high speed lines.
>
> But high speed rail has comparable CO2 emissions to air travel and worse
> than cars.
>

Strange then, how all the environmentalists support high speed rail if
it's so damaging. Even Greenpeace. I can't understand it...

In message <UoqdnbQgC7InNSfanZ2dnUVZ8h2dnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk >, Philip
Hardy <philip@phardy.karoo.co.uk> writes
>Steve Walker wrote:

>> But high speed rail has comparable CO2 emissions to air travel and
>>worse than cars.


>Strange then, how all the environmentalists support high speed rail if
>it's so damaging. Even Greenpeace. I can't understand it...

It is strange, isn't it? One could almost imagine there is some dogmatic
bias in favour of socialised transport over private.

--
Steve Walker

On 19 Feb, 11:34, Steve Walker <st...@otolith.> wrote:
> In message <UoqdnbQgC7InNSfanZ2dnUVZ8h2dn...@eclipse.net.uk >, Philip
> Hardy <phi...@phardy.karoo.co.uk> writes
>
> >Steve Walker wrote:
> >>  But high speed rail has comparable CO2 emissions to air travel and
> >>worse  than cars.
> >Strange then, how all the environmentalists support high speed rail if
> >it's so damaging. Even Greenpeace. I can't understand it...
>
> It is strange, isn't it? One could almost imagine there is some dogmatic
> bias in favour of socialised transport over private.
>
> --
> Steve Walker

But at the same time we need to recgnise that some routes (e.g.
Edinburgh/Glasgow - London) will probably never be able to compete
with the airlines and a very high speed line will cost so much to
build that it will be uneconomic (and just think of all the CO2
emissions whilst it's being built).

So I'd just wish we'd get away from this desire for very fast trains
and just get the poor system (well in my area on FGW its poor) working
reasonably well so that a train comes when it's expected, it has room
for the passengers and will get to its destination on time and we have
a reasonable service 7 days a week (and for example, not find that yet
again the 4 car Frome - Cardiff train this morning was reduced to 2
coaches!)

Cheers

Puffernutter