The £130 Billion Vision: A High-Speed Rail Loop for the UK and Ireland
Could a quick train journey from Manchester to Dublin replace short-haul flights in the future? According to a leading architect, this ambitious idea might become a reality with a proposed high-speed rail loop linking the British Isles. Named 'The Loop,' this £130 billion project aims to connect northern England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity, The Line.
Inside 'The Northern Loop' Proposal
The proposed ultra-fast route would run through nine key cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Bangor, Dublin, and Belfast. Chris Williamson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), suggests that trains traveling at nearly 300 mph every five minutes could make each city reachable within 90 minutes. Instead of underground bullet trains, the loop would be built on an elevated viaduct, operating directly between cities without extra stops.
Williamson, who has worked on high-speed stations for Saudi Arabia's The Line, describes the Northern Loop as a 'new global city, dispersed but connected.' It could reshape where people live and work, potentially linking around 10 million people and creating a 'Northern Powerhouse' comparable to major global cities. This hypothetical proposal follows last month's announcement of Northern Powerhouse Rail upgrades, seen as a response to the cancellation of HS2's northern leg in 2021.
Expert Skepticism: A Pipe Dream or Reality?
However, rail expert Mark Smith, founder of the Man in Seat 61 website, cautions that the Loop is likely unrealistic. He calls it 'a non-starter,' noting that the cancellation of HS2's northern leg undermines more grandiose projects. Key challenges include:
- A tunnel in the Irish Sea longer than the Channel Tunnel, which would be impractical.
- Any bridge over the Irish Sea would need to account for busy shipping lanes.
- Trains traveling at 300 mph are not feasible with current technology, as the fastest high-speed trains max out at 217 mph, and higher speeds increase maintenance costs.
A RIBA spokesperson clarified that The Loop is a speculative project submitted to the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, intended to spark conversation about future infrastructure and design. The organization remains focused on supporting members and advocating for the built environment while encouraging creative debate.
Current Rail Developments and Context
While high-speed connections in the north remain elusive, other rail initiatives are progressing. In Scotland, train ticket prices are set to be capped, with a £4.3 million investment freezing fares for the 2026-27 financial year and scrapping peak fares. Similarly, in England, the Transport Secretary has protected regulated fares from increases until 2027, affecting over a billion passengers with season tickets and return tickets.
The proposal draws parallels to Saudi Arabia's Neom project, including The Line, a car-free city powered by renewable energy. However, this megacity has been scaled back due to economic challenges, shifting focus to data centers and AI. As debates over The Northern Loop continue, it highlights the ongoing tensions between visionary infrastructure dreams and practical realities in transport planning.
