The government says the HS2 high-speed rail project is now expected to cost up to £102.7 billion and that trains on the London–Birmingham section will not begin running until as late as 2039. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander makes clear that the timetable and budget have moved further from earlier promises, with construction completion for the remaining scheme running until as late as 2043. One report says the announcement will also include further budget detail set out for 2026 prices, with plans for operational changes intended to manage costs. While backers hope the updated costings could be kept substantially below £100 billion in 2026-price terms, other reporting highlights that the overall figure in nominal terms is much higher. Additional scrutiny is raised by commentators who argue the published figures may exclude inflation, suggesting the “real” total could be higher. Overall, the accounts agree that HS2 faces both significant cost growth and major delays, alongside a reduced scope compared with the originally planned line.
HS2 cost rises and launch delayed to as late as 2039, government says
The government says the HS2 high-speed rail project is now expected to cost up to £102.7 billion and that trains on the London–Birmingham section will not begin running until as late as 2039. Transpor...
- The government, through Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, says HS2 is expected to cost up to £102.7 billion.
- Trains on the London–Birmingham section are not expected to start running until as late as 2039.
- Construction of the remaining scheme is stated to be completed as late as 2043.
- Alexander is set to provide further budget details and updated costings, including figures expressed in 2026 prices.
- Some coverage disputes whether the headline totals fully reflect inflation, arguing the real cost could be higher.
The Department for Transport this month delivered yet more humiliating news on the HS2 railway, the high-speed rail project that first broke ground in 2011. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander explained to the House of Commons that completion of the line, now reduced to a single route between London and Birmingham, can cost between £87.7bn and […] By Rares Cocilnau
3 months agoTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Commons yesterday that the severely delayed and over-budget high-speed rail project will now cost up to £102.7billion.
3 months agoTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Commons yesterday that the severely delayed and over-budget high-speed rail project will now cost up to £102.7billion.
3 months agoTransport secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed that the HS2 high-speed rail line – or the little that’s left of its original route – will cost almost £103bn. A lower estimate of ‘only’ £87.7bn has also been mentioned. However, the history of HS2 makes the idea of anything coming in at the lower end of an […] By Skwawkbox
3 months agoTransport secretary Heidi Alexander blames Conservative government for ‘obscene increase in times and costs’Business live – latest updatesThe HS2 high-speed railway will now cost up to £102.7bn and trains will not start running between London and Birmingham until as late as 2039, the government has admitted – £70bn more and 13 years later than originally promised.The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said that the truncated railway would not be entirely completed until as late as 2043. Continue reading...
3 months agoTransport secretary to give budget details of troubled high-speed line, which backers hope will stay well below £100bnThe latest estimate of the cost of HS2 and a timetable to complete construction of the high-speed railway will be set out by the government on Tuesday, including plans to run trains slower to trim costs.The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, is expected to give the first official reckoning of the troubled project’s budget in 2026 prices, which HS2’s backers hope will remain substantially below £100bn. Continue reading...
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