The United Kingdom has finished its massive £9 billion project to improve the West Coast Main Line track, which runs between London and Glasgow, via Birmingham and Manchester. Through the doubling of some track, the straightening of curves, and the updating of catenaries and tracks, the project allows 125-mph runs throughout the system, which in some areas is a dramatic improvement. While this is not high-speed rail in the continental sense, it will provide big advantages to riders. For instance, non-stop trains between London and Birmingham will run the trip in 1h12, 30 minutes

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