Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 20 December 2021 (HL4859), whether conventional UK passenger trains will be able to use the same platforms without modification.

It is unlikely that existing conventional British passenger trains would be able to use the HS2 platforms. HS2 platforms are offset further from the track than the conventional network and trains will therefore need a deployable step to bridge the gap from the train to the platform. The HS2 rolling stock, which is being procured to be compatible with the conventional network, has such a step. The only British trains with similar deployable steps (built for Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and Transport for Wales) are designed for a 915mm platform, so would have a step up to an HS2 platform. All other conventional trains would have an unacceptably large horizontal gap to an HS2 platform. Existing conventional compatible stock is unlikely to comply with other HS2 standards which might prevent access to the HS2 network. Future procurements of rolling stock on the conventional network could be compatible with HS2 infrastructure and platforms if the train is specified to meet HS2 standards and has a deployable step.