news froM THe iro
P ROmOtIng high
spEEd RaIl fOR BRItaIn
By John Glover l Providing an appealing high Pennines, with cross east-west including connections to
The EU definition of high quality service for everyone. links, from Edinburgh–Glasgow Heathrow, the West Coast and
speed is 250kph, which is a You have to start somewhere and Manchester–Sheffield, plus Midland Main Lines, as well as
standard of sorts, but 300kph and the southern end of the West a route to South Wales. The the Channel Tunnel, is expected
and more is now being exploited Coast Main Line is most in need proposal contains a mixture to cost £19bn at 2008 prices. The
around the world. Stephenson’s of relief. A line from London of new and existing lines, with benefit:cost ratio for the entire
Rocket was considered to be a to Birmingham with a journey speeds of 200kph and physical network is put at an encouraging
minor miracle when it reached time of 45 minutes, possibly via connections enabling high-speed 3.48:1.
50kph, nevertheless many lines Heathrow, would also be a good services to reach other key What happens to the
constructed in Britain during start, but on its own that isn’t centres. conventional network? There
the 19th century were later enough to justify a new railway. The lines would be built to will be considerable benefits
successfully adapted for speeds of On Greengauge 21’s proposed accommodate double-deck trains, in freeing up capacity for other
160-200kph. network, London to Manchester which, like Eurostars, could be passenger services, but also
Why do we need high-speed in an hour and 15 minutes and 400m long. Up to 15 trains per freight. Or could some freight be
lines? According to Greengauge Glasgow in two hours 40 minutes hour could be operated. There are accommodated on the high-speed
21, there are five guiding aims: are among the carrots dangled. huge implications for handling network, to take advantage of the
l Increasing system capacity; Running times like these would passengers at stations. generous loading gauge?
l Stimulating economic require speeds of 320kph and At an estimated £69bn, a large Not at 320kph it couldn’t, but
regeneration; possibly no more than one scale scheme of around 1,500 200kph might be possible.
l Providing a truly green intermediate stop. route kilometres does not come Greengauge 21 has made an
alternative to the car; Greenguage 21’s proposition cheap, but construction would encouraging start and further
l Encouraging a switch from comprises two north-south be spread over many years. The developments will be awaited with
aviation; and routes, one each side of the first stage as far as Manchester, interest.
diary of EvENTs
irish arEa All North East Area meetings take 11 January: Visit to Rugby Station 22 January: First IRO Golden Whistles
For information on all Irish Area place at 17:30 for 18:00 in York. and SCC. awards sponsored by Modern Railways.
events please contact Kay Doyle, 8 february: Network Rail National Hosted by The Fourth Friday Club,
chairman, by email at: kay.doyle@ NorTh WEsT arEa Operations Delivery Function at Derby Grand Connaught Rooms at 12:15
railwayoperators.org or Hilton Parr, 19 January: Talk by Chris Gibb, COO ICC. for 12:45. Tables of 10, at £900 each,
secretary, by email at: hilton.parr@ of Virgin Trains – The West Coast For information on all Midlands available through Chris Shilling on
railwayoperators.org VHF Timetable. Start: 18:00. Venue: Area events, please contact Julia 077 36635916 or by emailing: chris@
Manchester Square One. Stanyard on 0121 345 3833 or email: shillingmedia.co.uk
sCoTTish arEa 16 february: Visit to Newton Heath midlands@railwayoperators.org 4 february: Young Railway
28 January: Visit to Network Rail’s Depot – A look at the operation of a Professionals Launch – The launch of
Training Centre at Larbert. Meet at Northern Rail unit depot. Start 17:30 souTh WEsT arEa the new Young Railway Professionals
17:15 on the down platform at Larbert. at Manchester Victoria for transport to For information on all South West Area at IMechE on Birdcage walk. Meet at
For further information on the Newton Heath Depot. events, please contact Nick Edwards on 18:30, nearest tube Westminster.
IRO Scottish Area, please contact All events enquiries should be via 07801 905409 or email: 8 february: Good Practice Workshop
Ross Campbell on 0141 242 8620 Carl Phillips at: ironw.booking@ nicolas.edwards@dbschenker.com – Performance. Time: 16.30. Venue:
or email Jim Gillies at: scottish@ railwayoperators.org General London Fenchurch Street Station.
railwayoperators.org membership enquires to Clive Evans at: souTh EasT arEa For further information on the
northwest@railwayoperators.org All South East events will now take IRO South East Area please
NorTh EasT arEa place at London Underground’s HQ, 55 contact Alex Hellier at southeast@
For information on all North East MidlaNds arEa Broadway, St James Park, SW1, unless railwayoperators.org
Area events, please contact David Dates are confirmed, if events change otherwise indicated, with a 17:30 for More details of area events listed in
Monk-Steel by email at: northeast@ members will be notified via letter 18:00 start. 2010 are listed on the iro website
railwayoperators.org or by telephone or email. Unless otherwise indicated, 18 January: DfT Stations Review: Talk at www.railwayoperators.org/
on 01751 473799. events start at 17.30. by Chris Green at LU HQ. events.aspx
JANUARY 2010 : rail professional 31
RPJan10 pp30-31 IRO.indd 31 10/12/09 15:29:20
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