We hate it. It's desecration': the real cost of HS2

"Ten years ago, I walked the route of HS2, the 140-mile railway proposed to run from London to Birmingham, to discover what lay in its path. Nothing had actually been constructed of this, supposedly the first phase of a high-speed line going north. The only trace was the furtive ecological consultants mapping newts and bats and the train's looming presence in the minds of those who lived along the route."

"For many, it was a Westminster vanity project, symbolising a country run against the interests of the many to line the pockets of the few. People whose homes were under threat of demolition were petitioning parliament, campaigning for more tunnels or hoping the project would collapse before their farms, paddocks and ancient woodlands were wiped out. The line, we were told a decade ago, would be completed by 2026."

"There's similar uncertainty about its cost, but one thing is sure: it is catastrophically over budget. When complete, HS2 will almost certainly be the most expensive railway in the world. Nearly 20 years ago, HS1, the line from the Channel tunnel to St Pancras, was completed on time and on budget for 51m per mile (87m in today's prices). It was criticised for being twice as expensive as a high-speed route constructed in France. HS2 may cost almost 1bn per mile."

HS2 is a proposed 140-mile high-speed rail between London and Birmingham that has faced long delays and dramatic cost overruns. Initial visible work was minimal for years, with ecological consultants surveying newts and bats while residents feared demolition and campaigned for protections. Early completion claims of 2026 have been abandoned and an official finish date moved beyond 2033, with further uncertainty. The project began formal construction in 2020 and is being delivered by HS2 Ltd, funded by taxpayers. Comparisons with HS1 underline how far costs have escalated, with HS2 potentially costing nearly £1 billion per mile.

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