CHEAPER

£20bn less than existing plans for HS2 & HS3.

BETTER CONNECTED

Improves 94% of journeys and reduces journey time by an average of 40%.

CLEANER

Saves 600 million tonnes of CO2 and avoids the Chilterns AONB.

SMARTER

Improves regional rail across the UK and integrates with the existing rail infrastructure.

High Speed UK - Connecting the Nation

FAQ’S

“HS2 modelling is shocking, biased and bonkers.”

Margaret Hodge, Chair, Public Accounts Committee

“No economic case for HS2... it will destroy jobs and force businesses to close.”

Institute of Economic Affairs

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8. How can you claim that HSUK offers more capacity than HS2?

First, we’ve got to define what the capacity problem actually is.  Most of the UK’s rail network comprises 2-track main lines, and these lines have to cope with a mixture of express intercity traffic, stopping services and freight.  All of these traffic types run at different speeds and stopping patterns, and they all tend to get in each other’s way.  This mix of traffic is by far the greatest factor in limiting capacity.  To realise the HS2 vision of “hugely enhanced capacity and connectivity” between the UK’s major conurbations, it’s necessary to provide extra tracks on most intercity routes between principal conurbations.  This allows greater segregation between the different traffic types, and this creates a network with far greater capacity.  In this mission, HSUK achieves far greater success than HS2.

 HSUK offers a new 4-track spine route from London to South Yorkshire, with full interconnection to the existing main line network – HS2 will only comprise 2 tracks, with no intermediate links (equivalent to building the M1 with a single lane in each direction, and no interchanges!!)  See the HSUK Capacity Challenge, and also our assessment of HS2’s and HSUK’s performance in transforming capacity across the national network.

 HSUK provides 4 new transpennine tracks, 2 for passengers and 2 for freight, to interlink the major conurbations of the Northern Powerhouse.  Neither HS2 nor Northern Powerhouse Rail offer any sort of coherent or comprehensive solution.  See The Northern Poorhouse for further details.