The proposal would see nine major cities connected in a giant circular route using ultra-fast trains (Image: Chris Williamson)
Plans for a huge £130billion high-speed rail network linking cities across the UK and Ireland have been put forward as part of a futuristic transport vision. The proposal would see nine major cities connected in a giant circular route using ultra-fast trains. Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin and Bangor would all be linked together under the concept.
The network has been described as the “Northern Loop” and is being proposed by Chris Williamson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba). His idea has now been submitted as a proposal for this year’s Royal Academy summer exhibition. Under the plans, trains would be around 50 metres long and could run every five minutes at speeds of up to 480km/h (298mph).
The trains would travel on an elevated viaduct (Image: Chris Williamson)
The trains would travel on an elevated viaduct and run directly between cities without intermediate stops.
According to New Civil Engineer, the design means a train travelling from Liverpool to Glasgow would run directly between the two cities without stopping, while a Belfast to Manchester service would also travel point-to-point.
Mr Williamson described the project as a way of bringing the cities closer together and creating what he called “a new global city, dispersed but connected”.
However, rail consultant William Barter has also commented on the proposal, raising questions about some of the technical details behind the concept.
One of the points he highlighted was the proposed top speed of 480km/h (298mph), which would be much faster than the 360km/h (223mph) speeds planned for HS2.
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Under the plans, trains would be around 50 metres long (Image: Chris Williamson)
Mr Barter said such speeds would raise questions about whether traditional wheel-on-rail systems could achieve them, or whether technology such as magnetic levitation trains (Maglev) might be required.
Responding to that point, Mr Williamson said: “Maglev is certainly an option. The recent Japanese system provides a useful benchmark for the level of ambition we should be aiming for. The speed reflects that ambition.”
Mr Barter also pointed to the proposed length of the trains, which at 50 metres would be far shorter than HS2 trains that are expected to reach around 400 metres in length.
But Mr Williamson said the focus of the design is on frequency rather than train size.
He told New Civil Engineer: “Frequency is the key issue rather than train length. Shorter trains allow higher frequency and smaller, more efficient stations.”
He also explained that the stations would be designed so that trains stopping at platforms would move to the side while others continue passing through at speed.
Architect Martin Knight of Knight Architects also said that large infrastructure ideas such as this can help highlight the need for improved transport links across the UK.
“We need ambitious visions to focus the public’s attention on the needs of UK infrastructure,” he said.
However, he added that projects on this scale must overcome challenges around cost, risk and delivering major infrastructure schemes.
“UK must demonstrate that it can complete HS2 Phase1 before accommodating Williamson’s vision. Only then can you dare to dream,” Knight said.
The proposal comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a government plan earlier this year aimed at boosting economic growth in the North of England.
As part of that programme, ministers have placed Northern Powerhouse Rail at the centre of plans to improve east-west rail connections between cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, with better onward links to places such as Newcastle and Hull.
