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HS2 Watchdog: Deliver Plans or Don't Start!
29 Jun
Summary
- Watchdog urges confidence in HS2 plans before proceeding.
- Original HS2 costs ballooned to £102.7bn, delays to 2039.
- Costly failures stem from underestimation and scope changes.
Revised HS2 plans should only be acted upon once the government is certain of their deliverability, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The watchdog emphasized the necessity of establishing a stable foundation for the high-speed rail project to prevent a recurrence of previous costly setbacks.
Recently, the project's cost estimate surged to £102.7bn, with train services now anticipated to commence between London and Birmingham between 2039 and 2043. This represents a significant increase from initial projections, with services originally slated to begin this year.
The NAO's report identified cost underestimation, inefficient execution, and scope modifications as primary drivers of these escalating expenses. The reset process itself is estimated to incur £153m.
While the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd are working towards completing the reset by spring 2027, the NAO advised a review of the new timetable's realism in autumn. The DfT stated that decisive action has been taken to reset HS2 and ensure efficient delivery of the Birmingham to London line at the lowest reasonable cost.
