It is good news that the Government has finally decided to build HS2. And we support anything that increases the number of people using the railway.
However the route from Leeds to London via Birmingham increases the attractiveness of Manchester far more than that of Leeds.
A direct route in replacement of, or parallel to the East Coast Main Line would not only reduce the length of journey from it’s current 2hrs 20, or even the proposed 1hr20, but to just under 1 hour – If it went direct!
It would also be easier to build on the east coast route, it is flatter and straighter – it is easier to bring more railway into operation and revenue building on flat land than it is having either to dig through or lay rails around the Chiltern Hills to Birmingham.
Let us also remember the most recent plan for the West Coast line (which the new route will aim to replace up-to Manchester) was meant to be 140mph, but everyone agreed it was too difficult and expensive and decided to stick to 125mph.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Birmingham, Chiltern Hills, ECML, HS2, Leeds, WCML | Comments Off on High Speed Rail to Leeds – Not THAT good
Bradford Rail Users Group 