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Written question asked by Lord Berkeley (Labour) on Thursday, 23 February 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 March 2017. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 March 2017 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

High Speed 2 Line

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long they expect journey times to be for HS2 trains between London and (1) Crewe, (2) Edinburgh, and (3) Glasgow, when Phases 1 and 2A are completed, compared with the present Pendolino services, and whether they have estimated the time saving that would be gained if the HS2 trains incorporated a tilting mechanism and so could be used on the West Coast Main Line North of Crewe; and if so, what is that time saving.

Original answer

The proposed HS2 rolling stock tender specification does not preclude a bidder offering a tilting train solution. However, no tilting trains currently operate faster than 250km/h. HS2 Ltd assumes that tilting rolling stock could achieve a maximum operating speed on the high speed network of 300km/h rather than 360km/h for non-tilting rolling stock. This lower maximum operating speed would increase journey times on the dedicated HS2 network and could reduce network capacity. HS2 Ltd has assumed a number of minor line speed improvements on the northern West Coast Main Line for non-tilting rolling stock.

HS2 will not serve Edinburgh until Phase 2B opens. Existing and projected estimated journey times from London Euston are as follows:

Crewe

Glasgow

WCML Pendolino

1h30

4h17

Phase 1 non-tilt

1h08

4h00

Phase 1 tilt

Approx 1h11

Approx 4h00

Phase 2A non-tilt

0h55

3h48

Phase 2A tilt

Approx 1h01

Approx 3h51

The answer was corrected by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative)

on Thursday, 9 March 2017 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Corrected answer

The proposed HS2 rolling stock tender specification does not preclude a bidder offering a tilting train solution. However, no tilting trains currently operate faster than 250km/h. HS2 Ltd assumes that tilting rolling stock could achieve a maximum operating speed on the high speed network of 300km/h rather than 360km/h for non-tilting rolling stock. This lower maximum operating speed would increase journey times on the dedicated HS2 network and could reduce network capacity. HS2 Ltd has assumed a number of minor line speed improvements on the northern West Coast Main Line for non-tilting rolling stock.

HS2 will not serve Edinburgh until Phase 2B opens. Existing and projected estimated journey times from London Euston are as follows:

Crewe

Glasgow

WCML Pendolino

1hr30

4hr17

Phase 1 non-tilt

1h08

4h00

Phase 1 tilt

Approx 1hr11

Approx 4h00

Phase 2A non-tilt

0h55

3h48

Phase 2A tilt

Approx1h01

Approx 3h51

Crewe

Glasgow

WCML Pendolino

1h30

4h17

Phase 1 non-tilt

1h08

4h00

Phase 1 tilt

Approx 1h11

Approx 4h00

Phase 2A non-tilt

0h55

3h48

Phase 2A tilt

Approx 1h01

Approx 3h51

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5562
Session
2016-17
Related items
High Speed 2 Line
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Written questions
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High Speed 2 Line
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West Coast Main Line
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Written questions
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Subjects
Design Trains West Coast main line High Speed 2 line
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk