The HS2 rail project, embroiled in scandal, faces a potential delay of up to 17 years before completion, according to the Transport Secretary. Heidi Alexander revealed that the estimated cost to finalize the project now ranges between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion. The commencement of services may be postponed until 2039, with the entire project not likely to be finished until 2043. The speed of HS2 trains is set to be reduced to 320km/h in a bid to cut costs and accelerate construction.
During a session in the Commons, Alexander informed Members of Parliament that the initial services are projected to operate from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street between May 2036 and October 2039. Additionally, the full HS2 scheme spanning from Euston to Handsacre junction is anticipated to be finalized between May 2040 and December 2043. The first phase of the railway, originally planned for a 2026 launch, has faced significant setbacks, with Alexander blaming a series of failures under previous administrations for the delays.
Initially designed to run at 360km/h, HS2 was intended to have the fastest conventional high-speed trains globally. However, Alexander criticized the previous focus on achieving record speeds as a costly “vanity project” by the Conservative government. The decision to reduce train speeds to 320km/h aligns HS2 with other high-speed rail models like HS1, Japan’s bullet trains, and France’s TGV network, as most high-speed trains in the UK operate at speeds up to 200km/h.
Accompanying Alexander’s update was a comprehensive review of HS2’s shortcomings authored by former National Security Advisor Sir Stephen Lovegrove. The report highlights the detrimental impact of shifting objectives and political priorities over the years, emphasizing the overemphasis on speed as a major hindrance to the project.
Ruth Cadbury, chair of the transport select committee, emphasized the need for a realistic and achievable target date for the project. She echoed concerns that the initial ambition for HS2 to be the fastest high-speed rail globally was overly ambitious and costly, especially considering the size of the UK.
The original estimated cost of constructing the high-speed line from London to Birmingham was £32.7 billion in 2011 prices, but expenses have since escalated. Labour ministers reportedly considered scrapping the project but found that abandoning it would be as costly as completing it, given the substantial investment already made.
HS2 Ltd’s Mark Wild cautioned the Department for Transport about the unprecedented nature of canceling a project of HS2’s magnitude. He emphasized the complexity and costs associated with dismantling built assets and returning land to its original state.
A spokesperson from the High Speed Rail Group underlined the necessity for all stakeholders to learn from past challenges and collaborate effectively to deliver HS2 within the revised scope. The focus now shifts to connecting the new railway to the existing network further north, aiming to bring an end to years of uncertainty surrounding the project.