Vehicle specifications

The train design and the stations serving them must also have different characteristics. Standard high speed trains are built so that two can be joined together for busier services. When combined, they are as long as Eurostar trains (400m) so require very different sized stations.

High Speed trains have higher seating capacities than other modes of transport so stations must be able to cope with large volumes of people arriving at the same time. High Speed stations are more comparable to airport terminals than conventional train stations.

For example, when using approximately ten platforms, it will be possible to run up to 18 trains per hour from one station on a single two-way high speed line. If you consider the capacities mentioned earlier, this translates into nearly 20,000 passengers per hour.

Table 3

	HS Rail	Classic	Coach	Aeroplane
Capacity (seats)	1100	500	50	150
Vehicle length (m)	400	245	-	-
Platform height (mm)	760	915	-	-