HS2 LOADING GAUGE

[34006]

Does anyone know what size carriages will be used on HS2 ? Assuming that the tunnels and bridges are Euro sized, as the HS1, what loading gauge will be applied to HS2 ? Euston-- Old Oak--Birmingham could be Euro sized, but trains Euston--Old Oak--Crewe and beyond would have to be British Sized. Will there be two gauges of stock, or just British gauge ?

 

[furnessvale]

Does anyone know what size carriages will be used on HS2 ? Assuming that the tunnels and bridges are Euro sized, as the HS1, what loading gauge will be applied to HS2 ? Euston-- Old Oak--Birmingham could be Euro sized, but trains Euston--Old Oak--Crewe and beyond would have to be British Sized. Will there be two gauges of stock, or just British gauge ?

Two gauges of stock. HS2 only and "classic compatible" built to a Great British gauge.

 

[paul1609]

Two gauges of stock. HS2 only and "classic compatible" built to a Great British gauge.

Does anybody know how that will work? On HS1 Class 395s can only use International Platforms in an emergency and Eurostars are banned from passing through the Domestic Platforms because of insufficient clearance.

 

[CW2]

The HS2 stations will be designed to Continental loading gauge - which might permit double-decker trains in future.
The "Classic Compatible" trains will be fitted with extending steps to bridge the gap between the (narrower) train and the platform edge.
I understand HS2 are aiming for a non-standard platform height in order to enable level access wherever possible.
In summary, the HS2 Only sets will fit anywhere on HS2, but can't go anywhere on the existing network.
The "Classic Compatible" sets will - as their name suggests - fit on both HS2 and the existing network (although as with any new stock that will be subject to clearance tests).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Two gauges of stock. HS2 only and "classic compatible" built to a Great British gauge.

I'm sure I recall that for the time being only classic-compatible stock will be ordered, because dedicated stock would only, until Phase 2b was built, be of use between Euston and Birmingham, and as such having two fleets would just be a nuisance.

Moderator note: for speculation on possible dedicated HS2 fleet and double decker trains, please use https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...edicated-double-decker-stock-be-built.214235/

 

[Loki]

The infrastructure itself is the same gauge as HS1 - UIC GC which is the largest continental gauge permitting the largest double decker trains as long as they only stay on HS2.

Does anybody know how that will work? On HS1 Class 395s can only use International Platforms in an emergency and Eurostars are banned from passing through the Domestic Platforms because of insufficient clearance.

As far as I know HS2 will not have any British gauge platforms. Rather all trains will have extendable platforms. HS1 has a combination of both UK and GC platforms.

 

[HSTEd]

Loading gauge is specced as GC.

HS2 was in a huge fight with the European Commission pre Brexit about platform heights, because they want 1200mm platforms, which are definitely not permitted under the TSIs.

Obviously that fight was rendered moot, but still.....
I personally think GC is too short for 1200mm platforms, but thats jut me.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Two gauges of stock. HS2 only and "classic compatible" built to a Great British gauge.

No, only classic compatible gauge trains will be built, at least initially (5 bids for 54 trains being assessed now).
Dedicated HS2 gauge trains may follow when HS2 Phase 2b is opened.
With most trains initially running through to classic WCML destinations, the dedicated build for Birmingham trains was considered too small to be financially viable.

 

[hwl]

Does anybody know how that will work? On HS1 Class 395s can only use International Platforms in an emergency and Eurostars are banned from passing through the Domestic Platforms because of insufficient clearance.

On classic compatible (which are the only stock tendered): Extending gap fillers that are either level for HS 1200mm platforms or angled down for the random selection older platform heights.

 

[SouthernR]

On HS1 Class 395s can only use International Platforms in an emergency and Eurostars are banned from passing through the Domestic Platforms because of insufficient clearance.

Presumably this is also to avoid customs & immigration and security issues.

 

[paul1609]

Presumably this is also to avoid customs & immigration and security issues.

As only St Pancras is in use as an international station at present and for the foreseeable future its not an issue, at Ashford its a matter of opening the stairs from platform 3/4 to the domestic subway (currently alarmed and marked as an emergency exit) and enabling the lift to go there. Think Stratford International (International) was only ever fitted out for crowds to the Olympics any way, with temporary platform modifications.

 

[Ianno87]

AIUI each platform can only be used on one side at a time to keep arrivals and departures apart. It can’t be compared to a normal station in capacity terms.

Presumably nothing to stop two consecutive departures off either side of one platform (or two consecutive arrivals), given how the Eurostar pattern 'flights' with two departures each half hour.