New high-speed railwaystation at LHR

[Conti764]

It will probably be updated anyway, since as far as I know the station will be transformed from a terminal station to a normal (drive-thru) station when the tunnels in the direction of Antwerp are ready.

Wasn't the NMBS station given an award in 2007? I believe I read something about that... I don't think it's that bad, it just needs an update.

It doesn't have to be updated if transformed from a terminator station to a normal station. But I do hope they will ad some new, fresh colors to it. Maybe some anthracite and grey colors, with stylish blue led lights...

IC trains are InterCity NMBS trains, wich indeed can run at 200 km/h. They can run on the high-speed rail link from Brussels to Liège.

It's not a railway forum, but this is not entirely right. Not every IC train in Belgium is designed to operate at high speed rails. IC is indicated for trains running long distances, stopping at less stations while an IR train is doing shorter hops, stopping at more stations. At least in theory.

The new M6-double deck coaches for example, are not designed to operate on high speed rails since their doors are to large and cannot hold the pressure from a Thalys of ICE passing at 300 km/u. Currently, only the I11-coaches are fit for high speed rails.

Sorry though for this totally off topic part...

[JOVAN]

It's all about politics. You can't buy new terminals, gates, parking's, train-stations or new train connections without permission of the local authorities and Flemish/Federal government.
You can't even attract new carriers and new destinations without permission of the government.

Why do you think it took so long to get permission for only 200m of tracks for the last leg to Schaarbeek over the E19? Correct: politics.

It's a game and because we have more governments in Belgium then necessary, Brussels Airport will loose the battle and not because of no vision or what ever but due to political games.

Two examples: 1) 3 to 4 communities (not so close to the airport) are against the new LCT. Even, one of those mayors visited the wharf without permission of Brussels Airport.

2) The Flemish government can't or will not give a long term vision for the airport!! Can you believe that in terms of economical crisis and with the airport as second biggest economical pool of this country.
In the next couple of weeks they would try again to have a debate.

Do you see the picture?

Well I agree that there is no more common sense in this country.
Everything is a political issue in this land of Lilliputters.

[Airbus330lover]

Jovan:

Thanks for your "very constructive" posts...

[LJ]

Now it seems quite logic the Thalys or another high speed train will stop at BRU, bringing in passengers from Southern Holland, some from AMS maybe,...

Highly unlikely that the Thalys will call at BRU (at least from The Netherlands). KLM (partner in the HSL bewteen Brussels and Amsterdam) has no interest in stopping at BRU (moreover as they will then reduce or stop the AMS-BRU flights). Furthermore in a few years time only the Thalys will run across the Dutch-Belgium border (OK with the exception of the Maastricht - Liege line). Thus no direct rail link between BRU and The Netherlands.

[JOVAN]

Now it seems quite logic the Thalys or another high speed train will stop at BRU, bringing in passengers from Southern Holland, some from AMS maybe,...

Highly unlikely that the Thalys will call at BRU (at least from The Netherlands). KLM (partner in the HSL bewteen Brussels and Amsterdam) has no interest in stopping at BRU (moreover as they will then reduce or stop the AMS-BRU flights). Furthermore in a few years time only the Thalys will run across the Dutch-Belgium border (OK with the exception of the Maastricht - Leuven line). Thus no direct rail link between BRU and The Netherlands.

There will be Thalys, Albatros (=HiSpeed: NMBS/NS/KLM group), Veolia (AF-KL), and who knows..hopefully one or a few private companies.
TGV-France could appear for connection to French cities other than Paris.
ICE ?

Never say never, but the Railway business is so over-protected that business-initiatives are almost impossible.

[Acid-drop]

OK with the exception of the Maastricht - Leuven line

Small correction : it's the Maastricht-Liège-(200km/h)-Brussels line, without a stop in Leuven. Drives only on week days. For week-ends, a train change in Liège-Guillemins is mandatory

[LX-LGX]

Allow me to go back to the topic content: a new high-speed railwaystation at Heathrow.

The British governmment has finally approved the third runway (edited - I've previously posted "third terminal"). However, the new high-speed railwaystation (which has been announced in this topic) is very uncertain.

Quotes from the BBC:

"... Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon ... also announced increased investment in public transport, including the possibility of new high-speed rail links from the airport."

"He also announced he would set up a company to look into creating a high speed rail line between London and Scotland - adding there was a "strong case" for a new high speed rail hub at Heathrow."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7829676.stm

- - -

And to bring the discussion back to the enclosure of BRU railway station: Diabolo announced that the German high capacity drill has arrived safely yesterday. End of March, they will start drilling a tunnel under 07L/25R. By the end of the year, the drill works should be finished, followed by other construction works (power supplies, railway tracks, ...)

[sn26567]

The British governmment has finally approved the third terminal.

Isn't it rather a third runway and a sixth terminal?

[LX-LGX]

Boris Johnson, London's mayor, is against LHR's new third runway. He now says he has a new plan for Heathrow: a new hub on two Thames islands. It's impossible to tell the story in a few words, therefore:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/p ... 581066.ece