"The 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. She will also set out when trains are expected to start running between London and Birmingham as part of the long-awaited reset of HS2's construction and contracts."
"Last year the project was delayed beyond 2033. The HS2 Ltd chief executive, Mark Wild, is understood to have given the full findings of his review of the project several months ago, and ministers have been considering whether further cost savings were feasible or desirable, including reducing the top speed of trains from 360km/h to 320km/h, nearer the standard European limit. Plans to build the line with automatic train operation may also be jettisoned."
"The system does not replace drivers entirely but is primarily used on the busiest metropolitan rail lines with high-frequency services to manage train movement for maximum capacity. The changes appear likely after excerpts of a further critical report listing HS2's original sins were briefed out by the Department for Transport, including criticism of the gold plating of the initial project design and focusing on the highest possible speeds."
"Lovegrove's report said interviews with senior officials involved in HS2 showed the damage done by changing objectives and political priorities, as well as awarding some of the biggest civil engineering contracts too soon without sharing the risk of escalating prices. He found that there was little do"
The government will publish updated HS2 cost estimates and a revised timetable for completing the high-speed railway. The transport secretary is expected to provide the first official budget reckoning in 2026 prices, with HS2 backers hoping the figure stays substantially below £100bn. Plans may include running trains at lower top speeds, potentially reducing 360km/h to 320km/h, and reconsidering automatic train operation. The project was previously delayed beyond 2033, and ministers are weighing further cost savings through changes to construction and contracts. A critical report has been briefed, citing issues such as gold plating of the original design and an emphasis on achieving the highest possible speeds. The report also points to changing objectives and political priorities and awarding major civil engineering contracts too early without sharing the risk of rising prices.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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