The new high speed rail network has now been unveiled by the government, this new network is planned to be the worldwide stance for long distance inter-city rail travel. This new network is thought to cost around £33bn in total; however it still does have strong opposition.
It is thought phase one of HS2 which will be running between London and Birmingham will be up and running by 2026 and soon after will be extended to the north of England.
At the moment freight trains can only travel at a maximum of 70mph, the new HS2 will be able to take speeds up to 250mph; this can make a huge difference to how freight is carried in the future. Currently the fastest journey between London and Birmingham is 1 hour and 13 minutes; this can be condensed down to 49 minutes. As well as improving travelling times, this new rail network is thought to bring jobs, growth and prosperity.
Threats from HS2 Rail Network
The one thing standing in the way of building the new HS2 rail network is the threat it has on our environment. To start constructing the network, much of the landscape through England will have to be destroyed to make room for the rail line; this also includes the destruction of people’s homes.
Many of the residents who are currently living in the areas that the new rail network could be potentially built are against the idea, stating that they cannot be expected just to up and leave their homes and watch them being knocked down just for a train line.
Freight Potential
Even though some scenery around the UK will be disturbed by the new network, it should not be viewed as a bad thing. The new trains that will be used on the HS2 will be much more environmentally friendly compared to the trains that are currently being used. This will create much less negative impact on the environment.
Businesses are thought to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the network as they can use the HS2 line to transport their cargo up and down the country. They will find it much easier to transport products all around the country, pleasing more customers in a smaller amount of time.
Freight trains have the potential to at least double their speed on the HS2 line, this will make a huge difference to how they can run their businesses. It is thought it will also be cheaper to use the HS2 as they will be able to transport more goods.
Kerry owns her own export packaging business and will be pleased to see the new HS2 rail network built. Her associates at http://www.imexportservices.co.uk/ will also be happy to see the new rail line.
