The UK government has decided not to specify a target date for the completion of the HS2 project, following several missed deadlines. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will soon reveal a three-year timeframe for finishing the troubled high-speed rail initiative.
Alexander is expected to inform Parliament that the original 2033 deadline for operational trains will not be met and is now likely to be pushed to the mid-2030s. Additionally, she will outline approximate cost figures, which are anticipated to surpass £100 billion. The speed of the high-speed rail will be reduced to 320km/h to cut costs and expedite construction.
According to a government insider, efforts have been made to regain control over the project after past mismanagement. An upcoming review acknowledges the risk of further eroding public trust if strict target dates are established but not achieved.
Ruth Cadbury, chair of the transport select committee, emphasized the need for realistic and achievable target dates, rather than overly ambitious ones. The aim to have the fastest high-speed rail in the world was deemed excessive and costly for the UK’s size.
The HS2 project, originally planned to operate at 360km/h, will now align its speed with other high-speed rail systems like HS1, Japan’s bullet trains, and France’s TGV network. Most high-speed trains in the UK run at speeds of up to 200km/h, while countries like China and Spain boast design speeds of 350km/h.