The new age of the train
We are on the cusp of one of the most exciting developments in the history of Britain's railways since George Stephenson drove Locomotionon one of the first passenger trains in the world on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. On November 14, a 20-coach Eurostar train will snake out of St Pancras station on its way to Paris cutting the regular journey time to two hours 15 minutes.
But it is not just the geography that is changing. The new lines are engines for regeneration – derelict and around Kings Cross and Stratford are being transformed, and new fast commuter trains to north Kent will deliver a powerful economic boost. The environmental benefits are huge – travelling on the new lines delivers ten times less greenhouse emissions per passenger mile than flying.
In this special issue we look at the rail revolution and its implications.
What does rail minister Tom Harris think of all this? Christian Wolmar asks him the tough questions.
With contributions from Christian Wolmar, Anthony Lambert, Juliette Jowit, Barrie Clement, Roger Ford, David Begg, Rupert Brennan-Brown, Simon Calder and Michael Williams
