Thread by @HS2ltd

Our railways are full yet demand for services keeps rising. We need extra capacity. Here’s how #HS2 creates extra capacity where it is most needed, creating opportunity across the country.
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HS2 Phase 1 is the UK's only shovel-ready new line. Backed by 10 years of design & development, parliamentary scrutiny, and consultation to get here. No other projects are within 5 years of where it is. Upgrade of existing lines is ‘absurd’ say experts.
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

More people are travelling by train. West Midlands rail use rose 121% in 10 years. Manchester's 26%. There are 10 million more WCML passengers than a decade ago. Yet, no railway has been built north of London in over 100 years.
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The West Coast Main Line will get busier – demand will rise 12% by 2024. And its tracks are shared by frequent stopping local services and freight trains, all travelling at different speeds. Today, not a single extra train can run south of Birmingham. The #WCML is full.
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Likewise, many lines serving cities across the country are constrained by the local, intercity and freight trains all sharing the same track and travelling at different speeds
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As @jordanbhx puts it: ‘this makes about as much sense as Northern Line commuters travelling from Clapham to Euston having to share a line with a more frequent service going to Edinburgh.’
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HS2 solves this problem. By running intercity trains services on to the new HS2 line, it gifts capacity back to existing main lines. HS2 adds greater intercity capacity than that provided by the three main train lines from London northwards.
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With the fast intercity trains out of the way, that extra capacity means the frequent stopping local services can travel closer together on the existing mainlines. This means more rush hour, local and regional trains, including to stations not served by HS2 trains.
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For example, extra capacity, released by #HS2, could increase #Euston peak-hour commuter seats by 76%, one of the top 10 busiest stations in the country.
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The capacity released by #HS2 could more than double evening peak seats on the frequent stopping services on the #ManchesterPiccadilly to #Crewe and #StokeOnTrent corridors.
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When finished, #HS2 Phase 2b could almost double the number of seats from #London to #Peterborough and other East Coast Main Line destinations further north. This means more seats for #Stevenage, #Hitchin, #Huntingdon, #Letchworth, #Royston, #Cambridge and #Ely.
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Over 100 towns on existing lines could also benefit from quicker, more frequent journeys and better connections when HS2 Phase 2 is complete. By providing critical capacity in the Midlands, even services to the South West, Wales and East benefit from #HS2.
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'Why don't we just upgrade the existing network instead?' Whether it's doubling the West Coast Main Line or re-opening old lines, they can’t provide all the additional capacity needed in the right places. There are no credible alternatives to benefits provided by #HS2.
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Upgrading the existing network to deliver the same amount of capacity as #HS2 would require 3 huge upgrades of the West Coast, East Coast and Midland mainlines all at once. This would require around 2,700 weekend closures over 15 or more years. #replacementbus
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Upgrading the West Coast’s physical constraints means doubling its width to 4 lines and fixing bottlenecks. It would demolish many, many thousands of homes and businesses along the line in London, Milton Keynes, Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham, Stafford, Crewe and on to Wigan
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Investment in a state-of-the-art, high-speed line is critical for the UK’s low-carbon transport future. It will provide much-needed rail capacity up and down the country and is integral to rail projects in the north and Midlands which will help rebalance the UK economy.
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