High Speed Rail Assessment 2010-2012 Phase 3 – Corridor West High Speed Rail Assessment 2010-2012 Phase 3 – Corridor West 2 High Speed Rail Assessment 2010-2012 Phase 3 – Corridor West Report HHU Phase 3 Report no.: Project no.: Date: 1 254351 25.11 2011 Client: Jernbaneverket Final report Summary: This report presents the findings of the alignment studies performed in corridor west of the Norwegian High Speed Rail Assessment Project. The study has tested four different scenarios for a high speed rail link, based on different design speeds and alignment parameter agreed upon for all corridors. A potential station location assessment and an environmental impact assessment are included. 1.0 25.11.2011 Final report Rev. Date Revision applies to Compiled by: Sign.: Harald Monsen HMO Verified by: Sign.: Snorre Lægran SnL Project responsible / dept. Project leader / dept. Snorre Lægran / Areal og Transport Harald Monsen / Areal og Transport 3 High Speed Rail Assessment 2010-2012 Phase 3 – Corridor West Table of contents Table of references: .............................................................................................138 Attachments: ........................................................................................................139 Executive summary: ..............................................................................................11 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................12 1.1 Project background .................................................................................................................................12 1.2 Project background – Corridor west .......................................................................................................12 1.3 Purpose of this report ..............................................................................................................................13 1.4 Structure of the report .............................................................................................................................13 1.5 Scope .......................................................................................................................................................14 1.5.1 The purpose of a feasibility study ...........................................................................................................14 1.5.2 Scope and limits of environmental impact assessment .........................................................................14 1.5.3 Goal for this assignment .........................................................................................................................15 2 Methodology .................................................................................................16 2.1 Basis for this study ..................................................................................................................................16 2.1.1 Reference documents .............................................................................................................................16 2.1.2 Previous work ..........................................................................................................................................16 2.1.3 Scenarios for High Speed Rail ................................................................................................................16 2.1.4 Study area................................................................................................................................................16 2.1.5 Definitions of corridor, route, alignment and scenario ............................................................................17 2.1.6 Landscape ...............................................................................................................................................17 2.1.7 Study of potential stations.......................................................................................................................18 2.1.8 Alignment parameters .............................................................................................................................18 2.2 Assessment of potential stations ............................................................................................................18 2.2.1 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................................18 2.2.2 Present Infrastructure System .................................................................................................................19 2.2.3 The existing Bergen railway line (Bergensbanen) .................................................................................. 20 2.2.4 Issues for potential stations .................................................................................................................. 21 2.2.5 Station access from the HSR and urban impact ................................................................................... 21 2.2.6 Station design ......................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3 Alignment study ...................................................................................................................................... 25 2.3.1 Further development of the current railway – the B scenario ................................................................ 25 2.3.2 Route selection process for new lines ................................................................................................... 27 2.3.3 Alignment studies: D1 variants ............................................................................................................... 27 2.3.4 Alignment studies: D2 variants ............................................................................................................... 29 2.3.5 Alignment study: 2* variant .....................................................................................................................31 2.4 Environmental impact assessment .........................................................................................................31 2.4.1 Gathering of data about the environment ...............................................................................................31 2.4.2 GIS analysis ............................................................................................................................................ 32 2.4.3 Magnitude of effect and conflict potential ............................................................................................. 32 2.4.4 Noise calculations .................................................................................................................................. 33 4 High Speed Rail Assessment 2010-2012 Phase 3 – Corridor West 2.4.5 Ranking ................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.5 Quantities and costing ........................................................................................................................... 34 3 Scenario B: Upgrading of the present train system .................................................................................................36 3.1 Potential upgrade sections .................................................................................................................... 36 3.1.1 Bergen - Voss ......................................................................................................................................... 36 3.1.2 Voss -Myrdal ........................................................................................................................................... 37 3.1.3 Myrdal - Geilo ......................................................................................................................................... 38 3.1.4 Geilo - Hønefoss ..................................................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Summary of scenario B .......................................................................................................................... 40 4 Scenario 2 and D: New alignment for a high speed line .............................................................................................42 4.1 Route 1 Hallingdal .................................................................................................................................. 42 4.1.1 Landscape and environmental interests ................................................................................................ 42 4.1.2 Geology and ground conditions ............................................................................................................. 44 4.1.3 Stations along the Hallingdal route .........................................................................................................51 4.1.4 Alignment for Scenario D1 ..................................................................................................................... 53 4.1.5 Alignment for Scenario D2 ..................................................................................................................... 55 4.1.6 Alignment for Scenario 2* ......................................................................................................................