A FORMER Kirkbie Kendal School pupil is to travel to Japan to create a 'visual essay' about the bullet train and passengers' experiences of high speed travel.

Robert Hebblethwaite hopes that his findings can be shared with national agencies and stakeholders involved in the planning and operation of the high speed rail network in the United Kingdom.

His study will examine the Tokaido Shinkansen high speed rail line (bullet train) in Japan, and the East Coast Mainline in the UK.

When opened in 1964, the Tokaido was the world's first high speed railway line, and today trains reach speeds of 178 mph. Whilst Japan has had high speed rail networks for 50 years, HS2 and HS3 is only now being contemplated in the UK.

Rob, who graduated as Master of Architecture with Distinction at the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA), will draw upon developing techniques in the thesis he completed for his recently acquired qualification to publish the visual essay to describe fundamental aspects of the traveller experience at high speed.

During his architectural degree studies, Rob has gained work experience at a number of practices based in Manchester, Edinburgh and Switzerland. However, he has also worked for Kendal companies NPS Group and O’Neil Associates.

While at NPS in summer 2010, he assisted in the conversion of the Castle Dairy to à la carte restaurant for Kendal College, a role which confirmed architecture as an “incredibly positive career” and allowed him to see “professionalism in action”.

More recently, Rob was also recognised at the annual Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Scottish Student Awards for Architecture.

The winners were announced at a ceremony held at The Lighthouse, Glasgow, last month. Rob’s proposal to use the Churchill Barrier in the Orkney Islands as a means of alternative energy generation, in combination with local activities to strengthen the island economy, was winner of the Architecture and Design Scotland Sust. Award for Sustainable Design.

Now looking forward to the final stage of becoming a qualified architect (RIBA Part 3), Rob recently commenced employment with CZWG Architects, London, specialists in master planning, residential, and civic buildings.

Rob has received an International Travel Bursary provided by the Saltire Society and supported by British Council Scotland to help support his trip to Japan.