New Line Capacity Study

This suite of documents consists of seven reports produced in the development of the Government’s policy on new lines for the 2007 rail white paper.  To enable cost comparisons of rail infrastructure options (conventional, high speed and maglev), an indicative ‘hybrid’ line was developed in preparation for the white paper.  This line, providing conventional-speed services but high-speed-capable, was not included in the final white paper.  However, drawing on this work, the white paper noted that “the balance of advantage would appear to favour services running at conventional speeds on re-opened alignments between London and Birmingham”.

Many of the seven reports contain details of this indicative new rail alignment for the hybrid line and associated land take that would be required.  This information has been redacted from the reports under section 35 of the Freedom of Information Act.  The release of this information has the potential for disproportionate and unwarranted adverse impact on property values which may result from publication (generalised blight).

Reports produced in the development of the 2007 white paper Delivering a Sustainable Railway:

New Line Capacity Study – cost estimate (12 Mb)

A high level cost estimate for a north-south ‘hybrid’ line between London and Scotland, linking to other cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and York. The cost estimates include an examination of high speed rail, conventional rail and Maglev.

Published:
03 April 2009

Strategic Review of Environment Policy for Rail Programmes (759 kb)

A strategic review of sustainability and environmental objectives in the policy framework for rail programmes, for use in strategic rail planning.

Published:
03 April 2009

High Level Review of Environmental Issues for New Line Options (7 Mb)

A high level review of the sustainability and environmental characteristics of a new north-south rail line in the UK. This includes an assessment of five options: High speed line, hybrid line, Maglev, freight line, and multi-track.

Published:
03 April 2009

Estimated Carbon Impact of a New North-South Line (9 Mb)

A high level study to assess the carbon impact of a new north-south rail line, including the impact of modal shift. Two point to point scenarios are investigated: London – Manchester and London – Glasgow/Edinburgh. This assessment is carried out for a new conventional rail line, a high speed rail line, and Maglev.

Published:
03 April 2009

Journey Time Run Comparisons (1 Mb)

Indicative journey run times for 3 new line scenarios (a hybrid line, a high speed line, and a variant of the hybrid line) and utilisation of two different types of rolling stock.

Published:
03 April 2009

Environmental Review at Scheme and Route Level (5 Mb)

A high level review of the indicative north-south hybrid line at scheme and route level. The report discusses high level mitigation factors, mitigation cost estimates and environmental constraints of such a new line. The report also details an indicative programme for achieving the necessary planning and construction powers and implementing the project (benchmarked against other large scale rail projects such as Crossrail, Thameslink and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link).

Published:
03 April 2009

New Line Capacity Study Supplementary Report (7 Mb)

Supplementary information to the High Level Review of Environmental Issues for New Line Options and the Strategic Review of Environment Policy for Rail Programmes reports

Published:
03 April 2009