Ministers have decided against setting a specific target date for the completion of HS2 following ongoing delays in the project. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is set to unveil a three-year timeframe for the troubled high-speed rail project on Tuesday.
Alexander will inform Members of Parliament that the original 2033 deadline for having trains operational will not be met, with a new anticipated completion date now likely in the mid-2030s. Additionally, she will outline an estimated cost exceeding £100 billion and confirm that the high-speed rail’s maximum speed will be reduced to 320km/h to cut costs and construction time.
A government insider revealed to The Mirror that despite past inefficiencies, efforts have been made to take control and push forward with HS2. The adjustments in costs and schedules are aimed at expediting the railway’s completion at a reasonable expense.
An upcoming comprehensive review of HS2, led by former National Security Advisor Sir Stephen Lovegrove, is expected to acknowledge the potential loss of public trust if precise deadlines are set and not met. The report will criticize the project’s setbacks due to shifting goals and political influences over time, as well as the excessive emphasis on achieving top speeds.
Ruth Cadbury, chair of the transport select committee, emphasized the importance of establishing realistic and achievable target dates. She suggested that prioritizing speed at any cost, especially for a country as compact as the UK, may not be necessary.
Cadbury highlighted the broader significance of Lovegrove’s report in drawing lessons not only for HS2 but also for future infrastructure projects. Originally designed to operate at 360km/h, HS2 will now align its speed with other high-speed rail systems like HS1, Japan’s bullet trains, and France’s TGV network.
In comparison to other countries with top design speeds of 350km/h, most high-speed trains in Britain currently run at speeds up to 200km/h.
