HS2 railway could go over budget and be delayed by seven years
The controversial HS2 project could end
up costing £78 billion and be delayed by seven years.
There were reports that it was
massively over budget but today the company building it confirmed costs could
spiral by up to £22,000,000,000.
HS2 is planned to run up to 18 trains per hour at a top speed of 250mph – faster than France’s high speed TGV service which currently runs at around 200mph.
But the project has been beset by problems, including rising engineering costs and reported poor ground conditions. The second stage now does not look set to be complete for another 20 years.
What is HS2?
- HS2 was billed as a way of connecting
half the UK’s population – some 30 million people – with high speed
state-of-the art trains.
- It would serve 25 stations and be built in two phases.
- Phase one would link London to the West Midlands with the first services originally scheduled for 2026.
- Phase two would link the West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester (in a V-shape) and was originally scheduled for completion in 2033.
- The train would reach speeds of 250mph, drastically cutting travelling times.
- Trains would have up to 1,100 seats each and be up to 400 metres long.
- The Department of Transport said that the project would triple the capacity of trains across the entire route.
In a written statement to Parliament, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘Colleagues will see that the chairman of HS2 does not believe that the current scheme design can be delivered within the budget of £55.7 billion, set in 2015 prices.
‘Instead he estimates that the current scheme requires a total budget – including contingency – in the range of £72 to £78 billion, again in 2015 prices.
‘Regarding
schedule, the chairman does not believe the current schedule of 2026 for
initial services on Phase One is realistic.
‘In
line with lessons from other major transport infrastructure projects, his
advice proposes a range of dates for the start of service.
‘He
recommends 2028 to 2031 for Phase One – with a staged opening, starting with
initial services between London Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street,
followed by services to and from London Euston later.
‘He
expects Phase 2b, the full high-speed line to Manchester and Leeds, to open
between 2035 and 2040.’
Journey Times
Journey times are set to be drastically
reduced if HS2 does happen.
- Birmingham to London: Currently one hour 21 minutes. With HS2 reduced to 49 minutes.
- Birmingham to Manchester: Currently one
hour and 28 minutes. With HS2 reduced to 41 minutes.
- Leeds to London: Currently two hours
and 11 minutes. With HS2 reduced to one hour and 21 minutes.
- Manchester to London: Currently two
hours and 7 minutes. With HS2 one hour and 7 minutes.
- Nottingham to London: Currently one
hour and 40 minutes. With HS2 one hour and 9 minutes.
- Liverpool to London: Currently two
hours and 14 minutes. With HS2 one hour and 33 minutes.
- Sheffield to London: Currently two
hours and 1 minute. With HS2 one hour and 25 minutes.
Ancient woodlands, cemeteries and homes have already been cleared for the
project with building work on the first phase set to start later this year.
An
independent review was launched last month to examine ‘how and whether’ the
controversial project should even go ahead.
Mr
Shapps announced a Government-commissioned inquiry which is being led by HS2
Ltd chairman Douglas Oakervee and Lord Berkeley – a long-term critic of HS2.
The
Department for Transport said the review will consider a number of factors
relating to HS2, including its benefits, impacts, affordability, efficiency,
deliverability, scope and phasing.
A
final report will be sent to Mr Shapps – with oversight from Prime Minister
Boris Johnson and Chancellor Sajid Javid – by the autumn.
What Will The HS2 Review Consider?
The review’s terms of reference state
that it will consider how much ‘realistic potential’ there is for cost
reductions by amending the scope of the project, such as:
- Reducing the speed of the trains
- Making Old Oak Common the London
terminus ‘at least for a period’, instead of Euston
- Building only Phase 1, between London
and Birmingham
- Combining Phase 2a – extending the line
to Crewe – with Phase 1
- Altering plans for Phase 2b, which
currently involves taking the line to Manchester and Leeds
HS2 said that despite the growing costs, the project remained a ‘compelling strategic answer for Britain’s future transport needs.’
A spokesman for HS2 Ltd said: ‘The report by our chairman Allan Cook is an assessment of the current status of the HS2 programme.
‘It examines the comprehensive and
far-reaching benefits of HS2 for the country, which are more significant than
those previously taken into account.
‘It also examines the challenges facing the project. It sets out a rigorous cost and schedule range for delivery of the programme under its current scope.
‘The assessment makes clear that HS2 remains a compelling strategic answer for Britain’s future transport needs, relieving overcrowding and congestion on our roads and railways, and reducing the carbon footprint of the UK.
‘It will drive economic growth and regeneration in our regions, and bring Britain closer together.
‘The assessment of Phase One is based on the significant work carried out so far, which has given us detailed insight into the scale and complexity of the programme. The assessment of Phase 2b takes into account lessons learnt on Phase One.’
Source: Metro
3 September 2019