Stop HS2 in Mince Pies and Quality Street
In that quiet time of year when most people are tucking into left over mines pies and the putting together toy train sets, HS2 Ltd’s PR team were publishing press releases.
Of course, had all gone to plan, 2026 would see the opening of HS2 Phase 1, with all the expected fanfare.
Instead, the big news slipped out almost casually at the end of the “year of progress” press release: HS2 will not be opening at some point between 2029 and 2033, as previously planned and that “HS2 Ltd has since been finalising a new range of credible cost and schedule estimates”.
Meanwhile there is “a fundamental reset” of HS2, with Mark Wild the CEO talking of “commitment” to “address the failures of the past and get HS2 on track. It’s clear that we can only do so with a fundamental reset. Over the last year we’ve been through the programme with a fine tooth comb and we’re now very close to establishing a clear path forward.”
(No timeline is given for the revised timeline.)
It’s worth noting that previous comprehensive resets have resulted in either an increased budget or a delayed operation or a reduced scope or a combination of all three.
Meanwhile HS2 is hovering up 69% of the rail rolling stock and infrasctucture spending, according to the ORR, work on the proposed link to the WCML has been ‘paused’ for another four years at least and the Government is flogging off properties along the route of the line.
A previous HS2 timeline, showing missed dates