High speed lines using conventional rail technology with purpose built new lines for some if not all of the route network are considered in this report. The motivation for the introduction of high speed rail is often due to the need for higher capacity and an improvement in journey time. The success of the Japanese high speed system, particularly in gaining market share from air, was undoubtedly a major factor inspiring European railways to follow the same path. Market share studies from France and Spain showed that much more traffic changed modes from air than from road transport. Methods of appraisal for high speed rail are discussed. The principal benefits are time savings, additional capacity, reduced externalities from other modes, generated traffic and wider economic benefits. The biggest external benefits of high speed rail are considered likely to come where road or air are highly congested and and expansion on those modes difficult and expensive, including in terms of environmental costs. Case studies for the Madrid-Seville line are presented. Key parameters influencing the case for high speed rail include break even demand volumes and the cost of construction. The effects of extending a proposed high speed line London - Birmingham to Leeds and Newcastle via Edinburgh and Glasgow are discussed. If feasible, immediate construction of the whole line is considered the best option, although the London - Birmingham section was justified in its own right. Pricing policy for the use of high speed track is discussed. In general, a high access charge limits the frequency of service offered below the optimal level and thus limits the benefits of the high speed track. For the covering abstract see ITRD E146823
Abstract