How much faster do the lines need to be? With a little lateral thinking you can run express and stopping services without the need for a completely new line, just some additional track to allow passing.valvesRus wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:22 pmWell, higher speeds would give more capacity, or we need new lines.Geoff.R.G wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 12:10 pmIf you are prepared to accept that high speed isn't necessary all that is required is greater capacity.valvesRus wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 12:55 am
I believe the Chiltern line was upgraded not that many years ago, and that some people prefer that route to Birmingham.
Having seen a cab ride video of the line after upgrading, and also videos of the upgrading work itself, the line is not really suitable for high speed, although the scenery might be better.
HS2 gives both.
The UK topography and population density is not really conducive to new lines, which is why HS2 is creating the problems it is.
Think back to when railways began in the UK, an how our landscape was scarred by myriad railway projects spurred on by railway mania. George Hudson may have been a con man but we were left with a rail network to be proud of.
If only BR and Beeching had mothballed more lines rather than instant demolition.
Mothballing of lines would not have served Beeching's purpose which was to shift traffic to roads to benefit road haulage. A line that has been demolished isn't easily reopened, a mothballed one is. Even so a good number of the Beeching cuts could be restored if the will was there. It might mean demolishing a few housing estates where they are built across the former track beds but in many cases the line has become a footpath.