I've been meaning to ask about freight on HS2. Obviously during the day it's full of passenger services, but is there any benefit to using it for freight at night? Or is it just too limited/expensive to be of use?
This is from 2012, so a little out of date, but it probably still applies:
10. Freight on HS2
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10.1.1 � Our proposition is to restrict HS2 to
high speed passenger services with
the potential for increased freight
capacity on the existing network. This
provides significant safety benefits
to HS2 through the avoidance of
the risks of operation of mixed traffic
(i.e. passenger and freight).
10.1.2 � The proposal led to some consultation
comments, principally from a leading
rail freight operator. The operator
accepted that in the daytime the
HS2 route would be fully used by
passenger services but proposed the
opportunity to operate some freight
traffic in late evening or overnight
periods.
10.1.3 � We have considered the implications
of this proposal and whilst the
specification we have used to
design the HS2 route alignment
(e.g. gradients) does not technically
preclude freight, we do not
recommend freight operation in
the late evening or overnight. Such
operation would impinge on the time
set aside for essential inspection,
maintenance and renewal of the
infrastructure. This maintenance
window is based on very clear
international experience where
intensive high speed operation is
undertaken safely and reliably during
the day with all maintenance activity in
the short time frame reserved through
the night.
10.1.4 � The cost of a more constrained
infrastructure management regime,
should it be possible to develop it,
would need to be factored into the
freight access charges. Additionally,
the consultation route included the
costs of provision of noise mitigation
and safe operation in tunnels arising
from high speed passenger trains only
during the proposed operational hours.
There would be additional cost and
mitigation needed for running freight
at night which we have not included in
our proposals.
10.1.5 � We propose that the HS2 technical
and environmental specification
should continue to be developed for
passenger operation only, making
no additional provision for freight
operations. The focus for freight
should continue to be on beneficial
use of the significant released capacity
on the classic rail network. Should
commercial opportunity warrant
it, however, the entirely different
proposition of operating high speed
trains carrying freight such as postal
traffic during normal operational hours
could be practicable.