High speed rail link for East Midlands
THE Transport Secretary will tomorrow approve a new high-speed rail network running through the East Midlands.
The network, which will be built from scratch, will see 140mph trains taking passengers from London to the heart of the East Midlands and further north.
However, ministers will not yet make clear whether the high-tech trains will travel directly into Nottingham or serve it from a station outside the city.
Notts and Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce estimates it could bring some £3.8 billion of investment to the region.
Head of policy John Dowson said: "If this announcement comes and it provides better connectivity for the region then it could be very beneficial.
"We've conducted research across the region and there has been a lot of support for it and Nottingham also seemed to be the best location for the track to come to.
"We would urge the Government this side of the election and after it to take this forward as a long term project."
Westminster sources say Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has approved a high-speed "Y-shaped network'' – running from London to Birmingham, where it will then split into a two routes running north.
One section would head to Leeds via the East Midlands and the other to Manchester and the North West. Lord Adonis will make the announcement tomorrow but will not state an exact route. Instead, he will propose that the Government drafts legislation detailing the precise route – with plans to be voted on in Parliament at a later date.
However, Sir David Rowlands, the civil servant commissioned by Lord Adonis to come up with options for the network, has signalled that a new parkway station between Derby, Nottingham and Leicester may be the best option for the East Midlands.
Regional MPs have warned that, while the development is positive, it must not divert funding from planned upgrades to the existing rail system.
A high-speed line would have to be built on a new route from conventional track, which may have curves that are too tight for the speeding trains.
EU regulations state that stations, tunnels and other structures built for the network would have to be constructed to strict specifications. A new parkway station would need to have platforms 400 metres long to host the high-speed trains.
It is believed work could start on the London to Birmingham section by 2017, with a line to the East or West Midlands running in the early 2020s. The Y network is unlikely to be completed before 2030.
newsdesk@nottinghameveningpsot.co.uk
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by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 5:00PM
“This is interesting.
I think this is a good development, but as the local MPs have said, it must be as part of a wider rail improvement scheme, such as electrification of the Midland Mainline.
This is why I say again that rail improvements, including these schemes, are a better use of the DFT budget than forever widening roads.
And in answer to your 2 points Stanley, I think the Parkway station could be useful to the local area, particularly if as I think it might be it is near East Midlands Airport.
But, as to your comments about connecting it to the City Centres, this is I think another reason why we need a renationalized coordinated rail network.”
by Marcus, Nottingham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 4:01PM
“Good points, Stanley.
An obviously well thought-out post - something very rare on this site.”
by Stanley, London
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:13PM
“I think the article has a few errors:
-Trains will travel over 186mph (Eurostar) and probably at least 200mph
-The government won't give the "go-ahead" for the Y network - it will just suggest it is the favoured option. You can't give the go-ahead for something over a decade from construction!
-I think they will present the route between London and Birmingham that they favour in some detail which bizarrely the Tories refused to review, even though there was no obligation for them to agree with it.
I'm not keen on the idea of a Parkway station as it will drag investment out of the city centres to sprawling business-park style developments near the station. I don't see why some trains can't come off the high speed mainline and go into the city centre as on a loop.
-Also not too keen on Y-option - the central London station will have to absolutely massive to take all those people and the single tube station will be overloaded. I preferred Greengauge's "H" network with 2 full n-s lines”
by Nick, City Centre
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:09AM
“By the time you've got to this parkway you'd be half way to Birmingham as it is.
And in all likelihood getting to this new station will take longer than the rail journey itself.”
by John, Birmingham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:01AM
“The 140mph figure is clearly a mistake. Trains already travel at 140mph on the line!
The figures usually mentioned for the proposed new high speed line are 180 - 250mph (i.e. the speed range usually qualifying as high-speed rail).
I think the plans sounds very exciting. A high-speed route to Birmingham would be particularly useful, although I use the existing service already which isn't bad. Pretty reliable with nice, modern trains.”