New 'HS3' rail link to Yorkshire proposed by thinktank

A report by transport think-tank Greenguage 21 has suggested a new high-speed rail link between Yorkshire and the Nottinghamshire town of Newark.

It is hoped this could help make up for the loss of the HS2 eastern leg from Yorkshire. In missing out Doncaster, the rail link would free up capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

The report by the thinktank aims to “join the dots” between the announcements. These were made in the recent Integrated Rail Plan and in the follow-up Union Connectivity Review.

Priority Upgrade

The East, West, North and South report called for the upgrading of the East Coast Main Line. It said that work must now be a priority to prevent an imbalance between eastern England and the west.

One suggested way of improving rail links for Yorkshire and Humber and the North-East would be improvements on existing track between Nottingham and Newark. In addition to this, building a new high-speed line running from Newark up to Yorkshire is suggested. The line is suggested to then split into different directions for Leeds and York.

The report says: “The existing line through Nottingham to Newark (where it meets the East Coast Main Line) needs to be upgraded to Intercity (200km/h) standards. With a new junction at/near Newark, this will allow HS2 trains from London and potentially cross-country trains from south of Birmingham to access the East Coast Main Line.

Additional Demand

“With additional demand for capacity on this line north of Newark, there is a good business case to provide a new high-speed line to bypass constraints that will otherwise materialise at the key hub of Doncaster.

“All East Coast intercity services could be speeded up as a result. This joined-up plan allows HS2 to provide hugely valuable capacity relief to the busy southern section of the East Coast Main Line and HS3 to speed up journeys further north.

The report adds: “The National Infrastructure Commission noted in 2020 that ‘it is worth emphasising the scale of work involved... particularly strategic alternatives to the full eastern arm of HS2 if these are to be considered.’

“To which we would add: the benefits could be very much greater than with the original HS2 eastern arm concept.”

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson says the government’s Integrated Rail Plan is “the biggest transport investment programme in a century”. He claims it will deliver “meaningful transport connections for more passengers across the country, more quickly”.

"High Speed Rail"

“High speed rail” is now generally regarded as speeds at or above 140mph (225km/h) on dedicated tracks. The first High Speed Bullet Train started running in Japan between Tokyo and Osaka. Its original running speed was 130mph (210km/h).

In the 1970s, the UK was ahead of Europe with rolling stock actually called High Speed Trains running on the Great Western line linking London Paddington with Bristol and Cardiff. It established 125mph (201km/h) as the benchmark for Inter-City rail in the UK.

 The East, West, North and South Report, said:

“The existing line through Nottingham to Newark (where it meets the East Coast Main Line) needs to be upgraded to Intercity (200km/h) standards. With a new junction at/near Newark, this will allow HS2 trains from London and potentially cross-country trains from south of Birmingham to access the East Coast Main Line.

“With additional demand for capacity on this line north of Newark, there is a good business case to provide a new high-speed line to bypass constraints that will otherwise materialise at the key hub of Doncaster.”