HS2 bill could rise to £102bn with first trains delayed until 2039, government admits
Summary
The UK government has announced that the HS2 high-speed railway project will cost up to £102.7 billion and be delayed until 2039 for the first trains between London and Birmingham, much later and more expensive than originally planned. The project started in 2012 with a budget of £32.7 billion and was expected to open in 2026.Key Facts
- HS2 will cost between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion, significantly higher than the original £32.7 billion budget.
- The first trains on the London to Birmingham route are now expected to run between 2036 and 2039.
- The full railway, extending to Staffordshire, is expected to be completed between 2040 and 2043.
- About one-third of the cost increase is due to inflation; the rest comes from other factors.
- The project speed will be reduced slightly to save approximately £2.5 billion, from nearly 200 mph to about 225 mph (320 to 360 km/h).
- Plans to use automatic train operation, common on busy city train lines, will be reconsidered.
- The government considered canceling HS2 but decided completion would be less costly than cancellation.
- HS2 Ltd leadership is tasked with better contract management and improving the project’s progress.
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