HS2 bosses are allegedly considering scaling back the national rail network after rising inflation, considering postponing or cancelling a London Euston connection altogether
Europe’s largest infrastructure project may soon not live up to its name, as HS2 bosses allegedly consider scaling back plans to connect the North and Midlands to London via rail connections.
Sources speaking to the Sun have indicated that HS2 bosses are considering how to deliver phase one of the project, which was expected to cost roughly £44bn but is now estimated to be £6bn over budget when complete.
A 2015 target budget set for the entire project was £55.7bn.
Scaling back HS2 could affect Euston plans
The Euston terminus has been identified as a possible candidate for cost-cutting, as officials are allegedly considering whether to delay the terminus until 2038, or scrap it completely.
Old Oak Common station has been put forward as the new terminus into London, with passengers taking the Elizabeth line to travel into the city centre instead.
Scaling back investment would defeat the point, argue supporters
The project has faced multiple complaints regarding overspending and environmental impact and last November Michael Gove suggested that a review was likely.
However, many supporters have argued that scaling back HS2 is counterintuitive after so much investment.
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “Old Oak Common simply does not have enough platforms to deliver a full service between London and Manchester, never mind to Leeds and beyond.
“The problem with whittling down major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail is that the new, cheaper versions do not deliver the productivity transformation we were promised and, ironically, are less good value for money.”
Losing an opportunity to deliver net zero infrastructure
Stephen Marcos Jones, CEO of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), commented on the speculation around HS2:
“Today’s media reports that HS2 may not proceed as planned into Euston are concerning, if true. We have already spent significant sums on the design and delivery of this transformational major project which will bring some of our major economic areas closer together, help to relieve capacity across the entire rail network, and ensure we can create a carbon friendly alternative to domestic air travel.
“Last minute changes of this nature will do nothing but add complication, delay and expense to the project where construction has already started. Scaling back its ambition further, at this stage, will just mean the economic and social benefits of HS2 for communities across the UK is further watered down.
“Our national infrastructure should not become a political football. We need to ensure that major projects can proceed confidently if they are – ultimately – to be successful.”
But the chancellor denied that scaling back HS2 was even on the table
In response to the reports on HS2’s London connection, chancellor Jeremy Hunt told BBC News that he didn’t “ see any conceivable circumstances in which that would not end up at Euston.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The government remains committed to delivering HS2 to Manchester, as confirmed in the autumn statement.
“As well as supporting tens of thousands of jobs, the project will connect regions across the UK, improve capacity on our railways and provide a greener option of travel.”
Nick Gray, Currie & Brown chief operating officer responded to these comments:“Today’s announcement by the Chancellor again prioritises infrastructure as a key lever for boosting the UK economy, and his specific commitment to HS2 being delivered in full is clearly welcome news.
“However, inflation remains a potentially significant threat to the broader pipeline of major infrastructure projects. This means we must still urgently change the way we approach infrastructure investment – a ‘business as usual’ approach is simply not feasible if some projects are to successfully go ahead and provide the economic stimulus the country so desperately needs.”
