United Kingdom High-speed rail in Europe

outline map of new high-speed rail lines in uk (present , planned)



eurostars @ waterloo international station

the united kingdom s first dedicated high-speed line, high speed 1 between london , channel tunnel, opened 14 november 2007. second line, dubbed high speed 2, planned government, constructed between london , birmingham later extensions manchester , leeds. high speed 2 approved government in january 2012. furthermore, future upgrades great western , east coast main lines (in combination intercity express programme) increase lines operating speed 140 mph (230 km/h), definition make them high-speed railways. such increase require installation of in-cab signalling. finnish , russian counterparts, strongest reasons new high-speed lines relieve congestion on existing network , create capacity.

the eurostar class 373 trains, run through channel tunnel between uk , both france , belgium, substantially different versions of tgv trains, support 4 voltages, of them 2 present in uk, both pantograph , third-rail power collection (although third-rail shoe-gear has been removed following opening of high-speed 1), ability adapt multiple platform heights, , cope no fewer 7 different signalling modes. tgvs, eurostar trains articulated bogies between carriages, , units have 18 passenger carriages , 2 power cars (the end passenger carriages have outer bogies powered). new class 374 trains introduced in november 2015, , able carry passengers destinations beyond core routes paris , brussels. class 374 train has 900 seats, equivalent 6 airbus a320s or boeing 737s (the aircraft typically used low-cost airlines). these trains operate @ highest scheduled speeds of in uk, using high-speed line between channel tunnel , st pancras station in london (high speed 1) opened in november 2007.

the remainder of britain s railway network considerably slower. no trains run faster 125 mph (201 km/h) using routes largely established in middle years of nineteenth century. major reason limit lack of in-cab signalling, has been deemed necessary safety authorities higher speeds. speed limit on sections of east coast main line experimentally raised 140 mph (225 km/h) during upgrade , electrification of route during 1980s (both pendolinos used on west coast main line , intercity 225s used on east coast main line capable of 140 mph (225 km/h) using flashing green signals indicate line ahead clear speed. line speed later restored 125 mph (201 km/h), , flashing green system no longer in use.

an attempt made in 1970s , 1980s introduce high-speed train operate on britain s winding infrastructure – british rail developed advanced passenger train using active tilting technology. after 4 prototypes had been built , tested, project closed down when margaret thatcher , british railways management lost confidence in technology. tilting action on demonstration runs induced feeling akin seasickness in passengers, leading train being nicknamed vomit comet , , prototypes expensive operate , unreliable. however, problems near solution, , technology success. british rail sold italian firm, fixed problems. trains based on older technology have been in service in italy several years. in 2004, following large investment in west coast main line, tilting pendolinos, based on italian trains, introduced. these trains limited top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) although designed run faster—cost over-runs on track , signalling refurbishment project led line being rebuilt lower speed limit rather 140 mph (230 km/h) planned; true of intercity 225 used on east coast main line has design speed of 140 mph (230 km/h). pendolinos operated virgin trains, on services london euston birmingham, edinburgh, glasgow, liverpool, wolverhampton, , manchester (with occasional services holyhead although foreseeable future these continue hauled diesel locomotives west of crewe due lack of overhead line equipment).

several alternative proposals domestic british high-speed lines have been put forward. more information, see high-speed rail in united kingdom.

the uk has 6 lines permitted speed of 200 km/h or more across @ least 1 section, 1 has operating speed of more 250 km/h on @ least 1 section. these follows:

high speed 1 (187 mph; 301 km/h)
east coast main line (125 mph; 201 km/h)
west coast main line (125 mph; 201 km/h)
great western main line (125 mph; 201 km/h)
cross country route (125 mph; 201 km/h)
midland main line (125 mph; 201 km/h)




^ great western route utilisation strategy (pdf). network rail. june 2012. archived original (pdf) on 1 september 2012.