Should HS2 carry adjacent cycle track?

It always surpises me how many random trains I see on the Gospel Oak - Barking line. Guess it gets used to shuttle stuff around.

I read somewhere that the HS2 trains came at about a 50% premium due to the smaller loading gauge.

most of Europe uses Standard which is 1435mm (4ft)

ahem 4ft 8 1/2 inches

GOBLIN is a freight line so you’ll see all sorts being towed along it.

“Don’t walk in the 4ft 8 1/2 inches” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Trains built to a larger size would be stuck shuttling between London and Birmingham

What is the reason for the HS2 trains not doing that? Why are they needed to go further? Explain to my simple mind!

Some people would like to go further north than Birmingham without having to change trains.

To get from Euston to places north of Lichfield, you could either:

1. Go on a congested line built by the Victorians with a 125 mph (at best) speed limit filled with stopping trains, freight and lots of intermediate stations.
   
2. Go on a brand new line with a 240 mph speed limit and only two intermediate stations and no other trains.
   

Ok thanks, I didn't realise it would be offered as a direct route to say, Glasgow.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-euston-hs2-station-six-platforms-b1200561.html

"Experts warn that HS2 will never reach full potential and the lack of capacity will harm the UK’s rail network"

This is Grunt Brutain, did you ever think anything the former government organ iced could reach full hard on potential?

Oooo what an interesting thread.
By coincidence I’m working on hs2 ( London section) as a tunnel engineer
AMA

You'd think the government would try to future proof the design. Infrastructure projects in uk always seem to exclusively be shite show in my life time.

Can you get me into the building sites so I can walk around with my GPS and bag tiles? 8-)

When is it going to be finished?

Which bit?
West Ruislip eastwards?

Yep London tunnels
West Ruislip to Euston

1/4 active machines finished its journey today
Shortly followed by another one in a few months
Then 2 more in June

And finally in 2026 January the final two will be launched towards Euston

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👏 you must be chuffed

First section of viaduct went up on our section last week: 145 tonnes on the hook 💪

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Hi,
Whereabouts is this?

Duddeston, just outside Birmingham.

Nice work!
Yeah it’s been a long drive haha
Next up Euston!
Well disassembly first.

I spent ten years working on the HS2 environmental assessments. Horribly-managed costs, and Rishi's decision to curtail phase two was disastrous.

Canceling phase 2 was silly, will be built under a different name now.
And pausing the Euston section was also a waste.
Crack on with it all and it will be better long term than pausing and cancelling it

I've heard they still haven't sold the land yet, so there is still hope, seems an awful waste of effort to end at Birmingham. If they sell off the land for the addition platforms at Euston that will be the death nail for sure.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they as I said name it a different company, to avoid all the bad press with HS2

More likely northern high speed link or some bullshit.
Same tunnels same design.
Just to make it a new venture basically.