HS2: I am confused!

[charlee]

I am little confused at High Speed.....

Is the High Speed 2 a completely newly build railway line? Or is it using existing lines?

Would the HS2 track be only used by High speed trains? For example a normal non HS2 service could enter the track for part of its journey?

 

[Nym]

Before the thread gets killed...

High Speed Two the route is a completely new line, it will follow some disused trackbeds but mainly will be a new alignment from Euston, to Old Oak Common, through the Chilterns, to a new station near the NEC & Birmginham Airport, initally with a branch into Central Birmingham and to meet the WCML at Rugley.

HS2 services will be formed of Captive Services and Classic Compatable Services.

The former will only run on the new track, and will be out of gauge on current lines.

Classic Compatable units will be built to ~W8 Loading Gauge (UK) and continue on the WCML or MML&ECML (If the link is put in for the latter two at stage I) onto Manchester, Liverpool, Preston etc.

Stage Two will see the new captive lines extended to Leeds and Manchester, linking again, into the ECML and WCML (Near Wigan) for classic compatable services to continue onwards, with Manchester and Leeds now running Captive stock.

 

[MggW]

The connection to HS1 will use the North London Line with an expected 3 trains per hour.

HS2 will not be used by 'conventional' trains - their lower speed would eat into capacity and would prevent delivering the 14/18 tph. So while trains will operate beyond HS2, they will be purpose built like the Hitachi Javelins rather than existing Pendolinos.

 

[charlee]

Thanks guys clears things up!

But 14 tph , did not realise the demand for so many services.

 

[Nym]

14/18tph is what the core will be pathed at.

That includes all fast WCML and ECML services.

So 10tph for WCML services, and another 4-6 for ECML/MML, then International / Heathrow Services.