Heidi Alexander, the UK’s Secretary of State for Transport, has explained that her ambitions for HS2 are inspired by the success of the trains running on Japan’s Shinkansen network, known as ‘bullet trains’.
Alexander recently visited Japan, where she travelled the high-speed line from Tokyo to Osaka.
The government announced in May that HS2 will travel at a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph), making the service slower than the previous plan for a top speed of 225 mph. The reduction is projected to save up to £2.5 billion and allow HS2 to be delivered one year earlier than its much-delayed start.
The new, lower top speed is the same as the Shinkansen’s.
While visiting Japan, Alexander met her ministerial counterpart Yasushi Kaneko. She also toured Hitachi’s Tokyo headquarters. The company has a factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which employs about 600 people.
The Transport Secretary’s discussion focused on high-speed rail and infrastructure development, especially the ways in which Japan’s railway stations have driven economic growth.
The UK government believes that it can learn lessons from this to help with plans for the new London Euston station. The new station, which will be the London terminus of HS2. The London Borough of Camden has forecast that the station’s development could facilitate 2,000-plus new homes and 34,000 new jobs. It could also contribute £41 billion to the UK economy.
The visit enabled Heidi Alexander to understand Japan’s experience of managing simultaneous, multiple large-scale rail projects. This should be helpful with planning for UK infrastructure programmes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2.
Shinkansen’s next generation of trains has been designed in the UK and will begin entering service in 2030.
“It’s easy to see why Japan’s iconic bullet trains are so loved and I want Britain to match them. Running at bullet train speeds is just the start – our reset of HS2 is ending years of waste and mismanagement, taking control of costs and delivery, and making sure the railway delivers real benefits for passengers, communities, and the economy.
“By aligning the UK’s own dedicated high-speed line with the Shinkansen, we could save up to £2.5 billion and cut at least a year from the delivery timeline, meaning passengers and communities benefit sooner.”
Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport
Responses
Well, the last thing I read (in the Sunday papers) was that the govt spent £78m of our money in the last year on consultants paid to find out -er- why so much why so much money was being squandered on this project!
In the Sunday papers you say. Must be true then.
Original source is apparently data issued by HM Treasury – so I’m inclined to agree with you!