Hs2

Froggitt

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Forget HS2.

Just sell the whole lot to DB Bahn who clearly know what they are doing.

http://www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/

What exactly are you proposing to sell?

King_Weasel

If the proposed trains ran at half the speed it would double the capacity. And hugely reduce the construction costs.

It's all to do with braking distances.

PeacefulWaters

Double decker trains don't need stairs.

Just double decker platforms.

Sorted!

Laz123

I'm no engineer but I would have thought a monorail system would be more beneficial. There's less friction by the use of electromagnets, or none, so running costs would be much less, it would be high up thus reducing the risk of flooding and therefore forcing lines to close and causing the type of distruption thousands are experiencing now.

giraffe69

It maybe that very long double decker monorail trains solve the problem but step 1 is getting to the point where you admit there is or will be a problem.
Railways in this country were dying a death from the 50's to the 90's. They are now more successful. For sure there are problems
a. expensive especially if you don't get tickets in advance
b. still a backlog on repair and construction
c. a lack of capacity as numbers increase
I think HS1 has been a success and the journey to the continent made significantly easier. HS2 will increase capacity, provide a better and quicker service and a viable alternative for getting to Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester for many.

We are allowed to have a first class line and service and not cobble together a patchwork of second rate services. As for going at half the speed to increase capacity the brain hurts!

Froggitt

HS1 and HS2 need to link up, ideally at St Pancras. Monorail I would have thought is also quieter, solving noise issues.


Double decker platforms.....great idea!!!


And halving the speed to double the number of trains.......you still have the same throughput of passengers.....I think!!!

richardw

Is the distance between the current rails wide enough for double decker trains?

martindow

richardw wrote: »

Is the distance between the current rails wide enough for double decker trains?

Yes, we have the same gauge as most countries. The problem as others have said is the size of bridges and tunnels which are not high enough. I would have thought that a new line could be built large enough for double deck trains without much extra expense. The problem being that double deck trains would not be able to continue beyond the new line.

Monorails have always appealed to politicians as space age vanity projects. They may be OK for a self contained line to and from an airport maybe, but conventional track enables much more flexible through running.

Froggitt

Double decker trains on the existing West Coast Mainline would remove the need for HS2, doubling capacity at a stroke. Just needs the track lowering or bridges highering.

richardw

martindow wrote: »

Yes, we have the same gauge as most countries..

OK, But are some of the bends too tight/fast for double decker trains?