HS2 Costs Could Hit £102.7bn As Opening Delayed Until 2039

HS2 Costs Could Hit £102.7bn as Opening Delayed Until 2039 The United Kingdom’s controversial High Speed 2 HS2 rail project could cost as much as £102.7 billion, while the first passenger services may not begin until 2039, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced. Speaking before Parliament, Alexander revealed that the revised estimate for the high-speed railway now ranges between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion, marking another major increase for a project originally expected to cost around £33 billion and open by 2026. Under the latest timeline, the first HS2 services connecting Birmingham and Old Oak Common in west London are expected to start between 2036 and 2039, while the full route to London Euston and connections to existing rail lines may not be completed until between 2040 and 2043. Alexander blamed years of poor planning, scope changes and inefficient delivery under previous governments for the spiralling costs and delays. She said only part of the increase was caused by inflation, while much of it stemmed from underestimation and project mismanagement. The government also confirmed that HS2 trains will operate at lower speeds than originally planned, with maximum speeds reduced from 225mph to about 200mph in an effort to cut costs and simplify delivery. Officials estimate the change could save up to £2.5 billion. Despite the mounting costs, the government said cancelling the project was not considered a viable option because abandoning construction could cost nearly as much as completing it, while leaving behind unfinished infrastructure with little public benefit. HS2 was initially designed as a major high-speed rail network linking London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, but several northern sections were scrapped in recent years amid rising costs and political controversy. The project has become one of Britain’s most criticised infrastructure programmes due to repeated delays, budget overruns and changes in scope.