What's next for the Welsh bid for high-speed rail? (Guardian 04/08/10)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Blog post from guardiancardiff:

Cardiff to London: What's next for the South Wales bid for high-speed rail?

Earlier this year Cardiff put in a bid to become the third high-speed rail line in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) ^ which would reduce journey time to London to 70 minutes. But talks about the next steps have gone quiet from the new government ^ so is it on their agenda?

continues......

Long article so not quoted in full. See here for full report.

The British Chambers of Commerce report referenced in the blog article can be found here.

[Rhydgaled]

I don't think that building a true HighSpeed line to Cardiff would be putting the money where it is needed at all. The Great Western Main Line is supposed to get ERTMS^▸ (European Rail Traffic Management System.) and electrification in the next 10-15 years, this should allow 140mph running in parts of England. If some investment can be found to improve GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) linespeeds here in Wales too this should give a large share of the advantages of a new, true HighSpeed, line with lower electricity consumption. To warrant the increased electricity consumption of a true HighSpeed railway I feel the line needs to compete with air travel, which the current HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) proposal doesn't unless it is extended much further (at least to Manchester and prefrablly most of the way to Scotland).

Back to Wales, I feel the country needs the huge voids in it's railway network filling in, further electrification beoynd the Great Western (Valley Lines and North Wales Coast at least) and many linespeed, service and capacity improvments, before it needs a HighSpeed line.

[eightf48544]

A very good summary Rhydgaled, lets get the wires up on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) to Swansea that should bring Cardiff down to say 1hr 45 or maybe less.

Electrification to Holyhead from Crewe as West Coast infill. Followed by  Newport - Chester as the North South Link.

Obviously there's scope for electrifying the Valley Lines in stages. Better acceleration/braking plus faster grade climbing should improve timings quite considerably.

As for new lines I would suggest Carmathen Aberystwyth, Afon Wen Bangor to give a Welsh WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line). It wouldn't have to be full high speed say 100 mph in parts so straightening out some curves on the existing alingments would help and perhaps a tunnel/station under Caernavon

[Toiletdriver]

1 hour 45 Padd Cardiff is easy!!!!

Get rid of DaFT^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about)
Get rid of Notwork Rail!
Allow drivers to DRIVE
Simples!!!!

[Rhydgaled]

Electrification to Holyhead from Crewe as West Coast infill. Followed by  Newport - Chester as the North South Link.

Not so sure about Newport - Chester as with the North Wales coast line electrified that would be the only route for 175s (since I think their depot is at Chester), once they are life expired though put the wires up ASAP.

As for new lines I would suggest Carmathen Aberystwyth, Afon Wen Bangor to give a Welsh WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line). It wouldn't have to be full high speed say 100 mph in parts so straightening out some curves on the existing alingments would help

I'm not sure that's such a good north-south line myself, but do think Carmarthen - Aberaeron should be re-opened to reconnect Cereidigion (and later do Lampeter to Aberystwyth too). The north-south route I proposed would be:

• Cardiff - Merthyr - Electrified (along with Vale of Glamorgan line) linespeed upgrades (100mph where possible, for use by valley lines Electrostars)
• Merthyr - Brecon - Continuation of electrified Merthyr line of Valley Lines on a completely new route, much straighter route than the orriginal, with 100mph most of the way[/i]
  
  • Brecon - Near Newtown - (probablly mostly 90mph and no wires) with new alignment between Rhayader and Llanidloes
  • Near Newtown - Porthmadog - 90mph where possible on Cambrian mainline
  • Porthmadog - Caernarfon - not using Afon Wen, as suggested here
    
    • Caernarfon - Bangor - electrified during re-opening
    
    As you say, these, and many other lines which I think should re-open, could use some new tunnels and gentler curves to increase linespeeds though I would say 90mph rather than 100, as that's what a class 158 'Alphaline' can do and they are probablly my favoriate DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) (unless you count INTERCITY 125s as DMUs).