Europe backs cities’ Copenhagen call for high speed rail to cut CO2

Now is the time for Britain to join the high speed rail revolution if it is to meet the emissions targets on the table at this week’s Copenhagen summit, says HSR//UK, the consortium of 11 cities, backing a high speed rail network for Britain, with other European countries now backing the campaign.

Travel by train already produces a much lower carbon footprint than by car or air, and this gap is forecast to widen dramatically over the next 30 years, with a high speed rail network also capable of providing high quality, carbon neutral transport.

On the eve of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, other European high speed rail operators have backed HSR\\UK’s call for a UK high speed rail network.

There are 3,480 miles of high speed railway lines in mainland Europe with a further 2,160 miles under construction and 5,280 miles planned for the future.  In Britain, despite inventing the world’s first passenger railway there are only 68 miles in operation.

Andreas Hambrecht, Head of international Business, Deutsche Bahn, said:

“Germany has benefited enormously from improved connectivity and regional economic growth, which high speed rail brings. Germany’s high speed rail network is a vital piece of our economic infrastructure, connecting a number of city regions with each other and promoting low-emission travel across the country and Europe. After almost 20 years of operations the high speed trains “ICE” of Deutsche Bahn account for around two thirds of all long-distance rail transport services in Germany.”

“We see the most important factors of success being a high speed network built according to common European Standards, as well as a good link between the new British high-speed network, and the continental European high speed network; via the existing HS1 and the Channel Tunnel.

“The HSR\\UK campaign is to be commended for helping to raise the importance of a high speed network for Britain.”

Richard Brown, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said:

“The combination of Eurostar and HS1 has transformed travel between the UK and the continent. It’s no surprise that the vast majority of people travelling to France and Belgium from the South-East have come to see high-speed rail as  the most convenient and hassle-free  way of travelling.  There is no doubt that a new high-speed network would open up key UK cities to Europe and provide an environmentally responsible alternative to flying.”

Sir Richard Leese, chair of HSR\\UK said: ““All the UK’s cities need to catch up with their European counterparts – fast.”

“Mainland Europe has invested in an extensive high speed rail network and is already reaping the benefits in terms of business efficiency, connectivity and the environment.  An HSR network linking our 11 principal cities would be a high profile commitment by Britain, and a practical way of meeting the lower levels of carbon emissions that will be needed.”

Rail’s lower carbon footprint is already well established, but a UK network would be even more environmentally friendly:

• A purpose-built HSR will have huge capacity and will be capable of using longer, double deck trains with twice the capacity of those on the classic network.
• Load factors are higher on HSR lines compared with conventional long distance trains.
• The latest design techniques are capable of reducing aerodynamic drag of high speed trains by around 15%, while regenerative braking will save a further 20% in electricity use.
• HSR lines will be electrified, so that CO2 emissions will reduce as the production of electricity is decarbonised.
• Britain’s first HSR carries trains run by Eurostar, on which passenger journeys are already carbon neutral.