By: John Porter

John Porter — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:39:59 +0000

William Barter is right “any sensible service on the new infrastructure [requires] a proper station at Euston, and not a few platforms tucked away somewhere as a side-hustle”. However, there’s merit in an integrated station with six 16 coach HS2 platforms, dedicated exiting and arrival concourses and a few platforms shared with WCML for up to 12 coach trains. That saves cost and seems to imply rebuilding Euston with some commercial development on both East & West sides.

I’d prefer any new tunnel approach to Manchester from Liverpool to be re-confirmed as the right one for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and stations in Manchester saving cost by being designed for ULTIMATELY 12 coach HS2 trains rather than paired 8 coach trains. That might eventually require
# an extra rolling stock depot – as Washwood Heath is designed for 8 & 16 coach stock not 12 and
# a separate Leeds via Manchester to Old Oak and Birmingham Interchange service, not requiring advance reservations, to complement faster ECML Leeds services, while maximising ultimate capacity and connectivity.

As William says, any private financing needs to identify places where lower speed might save cost, without large losses of extra fare revenue and hence usage fees.

Comments on: Significant questions arise over proposed new Handsacre to Manchester Airport line

By: John Porter