1. High Speed Rail Some Development Principles
Prof Andrew McNaughton FREng

2. High Speed Rail is 53 Years Old
It established some key HSR characteristics
New line not constrained by historic limitations
Dedicated to inter-city passenger traffic – not mixed traffic railway
Very high capacity
Very high reliability
Bringing cities “closer together” changing the way both economy and people worked

3. HSR is being adopted across much of the worldKm

4. HSR technology is increasingly standardised around international technical standards

5. What is HSR capable of technically?
Capacity
A HS2 line is capable of carrying more people than two 3-lane motorways
Or the equivalent of a jumbo jet a minute
Reliability
Typically under 1 minute delay per train – less on closed networks
Speed
Up to km/h today
Up to c420km/h ultimately
Safety
No passenger life has been lost in a HS train on a HS line

6. There are some different approaches to HSR services
Asia
New “closed” systems: HS trains running only on HS infrastructure
Highest capacity and reliability
France Italy UK
HS trains on HS infrastructure
Some HS trains continuing on existing (“classic”) lines to destinations beyond the HS network
Some HS short distance commuter trains eg HS1 in UK
Germany Austria Switzerland
Mixed HS and conventional trains , even freight, on HS lines, continuing on existing lines
Low capacity reflecting limited inter city demand

7. Shorter distance services are commercially most successful
Example of Paris – Brussels
Journey time reduced from 2 ½ hours to under 1 ½ hours
Trains then branch off to further places
Rail share of market doubled
Car share reduced by 1/3
Capacity released on conventional rail network for more freight and commuter

8. HSR “shrinks a country”
Distance becoming defined by journey time rather than kilometres… but…
HSR needs high demand to be viable
Large flows between major cities are the foundation for a high speed route (60-90 minutes)
Very long distance / international services are glamorous but low volume
Shorter distance fast regional services can use spare route capacity

9. The UK example

10. HS2 initial network connects 8 of the 10 biggest city regions
Journey times are before and after HS2 (in hours-minutes)
Based on operation at up to 360km/h
London to
Birmingham to 0-49
Manchester to 1-08
Leeds to 1-22
Birmingham to
Manchester to 0-41
Leeds to 0-49
Note
Red is HS2 new HS line
Blue is through services on existing lines

11. Clear trend towards 3 types of HSR
Highest intercity demand / 350km/h+
HS intercity trains only on HS line
Very high capacity to meet demand
Very high speed to maximise benefit
High benefits justify high costs
Mixed intercity and regional demand / km/h
HSR trains on HSR line
Mix of intercity and fast regional services
Geography or demand doesn’t justify higher costs
Less demand or difficult geography / c km/h
Mixed HSR and conventional trains , even freight
Low capacity reflecting limited demand

12. Engineering System Performance
WHY
Are you doing it?
Business
Requirements
Passenger
Operation Concept
Engineering System Performance
Trains
Track
Control
Stations
Etc.
Route Selection and Development

13. Design is a balance of capacity, service mix and reliability
Journey Time
Reliability
Service Mix

14. Avoiding mixed traffic
W Midlands
HS at 330kph = 29 mins
NW London
Time
Trains leaving London at minute intervals

15. One train at 210 km/h = 5 train paths at 330 km/h
Avoiding mixed traffic
W Midlands
HS at 330kph = 29 mins
One train at 210 km/h = train paths at 330 km/h
Train at 210kph = 45 mins
NW London
Time
Trains leaving London at minute intervals

16. Similar non-stop trains follow each other closely timetabled at 3 minute intervals
Distance 1 2
Time

17. Each stopping train reduces route capacityB C A
Distance 3 4
Time
By stopping, train 3 uses 3 paths

18. Even if it is overtaken B C A
Distance 5
Time
Even with an overtaking train (5), train 3 takes up 2 paths

19. Station location is very important

20. Large cities generate strong demand from city centre stations
But many passengers in suburbs prefer to use easy to access stations on the city fringe

21. New Central Birmingham Station

22. HSR drives regeneration

23. City fringe stations have been successful if there are good local transport links

24. Route long list of options

25. Initial corridor thoughts
Birmingham 6 5 4 3 2 1
London
Heathrow

26. 2011 Public Consultation – Official

27. 2011 Public Consultation - Unofficial

28. HS2 - a 21st century railway: the passenger experience

29. Project risk reduces over time
Political
Financing
Planning & Design
Construction
Commissioning
Commercial Operation

30. Judged By Future Generations
Prof Andrew McNaughton

31. Passenger km per kilo equivalent petrol
Energy efficiency
Plane
Private Car
Train
High Speed
Passenger km per kilo equivalent petrol