high speed rail regional impact

High Speed Rail: Regional Impact

High Speed Rail Regional Impact Tony Lennon

• HSR implemented or being considered in most developing countries

• Europe and Japan – over 30 years experience in design and construction of HSR systems

• 1981 – introduction of Paris/Lyon TGV

• HSR systems deliver step changes in journey times


High Speed Rail: A Global Trend

High Speed Rail Regional Impact

Route Before After

Paris – Lyon 5 hours 2 hours

Paris – Brussels 3 hours 1 hour 20

mins

London – Brussels 6 hours 2 hours

Madrid – Barcelona 5 hours 2 hours 45

mins


Changes in Journey Times Following Introduction of HSR


• Dramatically enhanced connectivity

• Reduction of transport congestion

• Boost of regional/national economic competitiveness

• Enhanced regional productivity/employment opportunities outside capital cities

• Step change in transport system capability

• Impact on towns and cities relatively close to regional/national centres


Strategic Impact of HSR Services


• HSR = long distance travel

• Primary objective is not to serve daily commuter but ….

- Time savings makes it possible to commute daily up to 200km away from home

- HSR provides opportunity to expand outside cities

- HSR systems likely to have spare operating capacity for local services

- Regions demand benefits


High Speed Rail: A Commuter Railway?


• Most European countries traditionally don‟t have long distance commutes to work

• HSR provides regional stations close to major centres – stimulus for economic growth

• London = exception to „European‟ commuting model

• Even so, initial concept of developing the Channel Tunnel Rail Link into a commuter system was not thought of seriously in the early planning stages


Case Study: Growing Importance of Commuter HSR


• 1994 – Channel tunnel linking UK to France completed

• Eurostar linked Paris and Brussels to London

• In England trains used the existing rail infrastructure and shared it with commuter service – not sustainable

• 1995 - construction of dedicated link at 115kms to London accepted / detailed planning commenced

• Route would pass close to regional centres of Ashford (160,000 population), Maidstone (200,000 population) and the Medway towns (200,000+ population)


Case Study: HS1 in the UK



HSR1 Route Map


• Construction and operation of HS1 required approval of UK Parliament

• Two schools of thought emerged

• Local rail planners recognised early the opportunity to utilise the route for a new form of commuter service

• UK national government supported this and provision for “domestic passenger services” and freight were included within the Act and scope of the new railway


HSR1 UK: An Intense Planning Process


Ashford

• Market town 90km from central London

• Excellent but slow conventional rail service

• Economically stagnant in 1990‟s.

• Planning authorities fully supportive of sighting HSR stations for domestic and international services in town

• Persuaded rail planners to route line through town centre (original proposal was to bypass the town)


HSR1 UK: A Tail of Two Towns


10/17/2011 Presentation Title

Maidstone

• Country town of Kent, 50 km from London

• Prosperous with rail services, taking over one hour to arrive in London. Strong commuter market

• HSR routing vigorously opposed. Proposals for a station on the outskirts of town rejected

• Town planners did not engage with rail planning authorities at a political and practical level

HSR1 UK: A Tail of Two Towns


• Rail planners prepared to go to extraordinary measures to address local concerns and issues

• Objections to route extremely vocal - put pressure on town planners to adopt public consensus

• Ashford town planners engaged early in the development with rail authorities, national and regional Government

• Recognised Ashford should have a HSR station and HSR route too


HSR1 UK: Engaging With Planning Teams


• 2007 - Full HSR1 network opened

• High speed stations opened at Stratford, Ebbsfleet and Ashford

• Domestic HSR services operating between Ashford and London St Pancras

• Estimated by 2031Ashford will have built 31,000 new homes and created 28,000 new jobs

• Maidstone remained off the network – 2010 they began lobbying for high speed station - this was rejected


HSR1 UK: 15 Years Post Planning


• Potential to dramatically boost connectivity

• Regional organisations must be required to:

- Come together with common purpose

- Engage early with Government and rail authorities

- Have a clear / bold vision and understanding of what is required

- Recognise that HSR will have its objectors


HSR1 UK: Some Lessons


• Governments recognise HSR has a regional regenerative role

• Good connectivity of regions close to London is important

• Connectivity can also help shield vulnerable regions from the worst effects of the economic cycle eg. Ashford

• HSR can have surprising benefits - without a station at Stratford, it is unlikely that the 2012 Olympics would be in London


HSR1 UK: Impact on UK Policy



Thank You

high speed rail regional impact

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