by Kyle Molyneux | Tue 11 Feb 2020
HS2 gets green light
After months of speculation, the government has confirmed the first phases of HS2 will go ahead, linking London to Birmingham, along with Birmingham to Crewe. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered a review of the connections to Manchester and Leeds, to ensure this stage of the project is cost-effective and that it properly complements a larger plan to revitalise northern infrastructure, including the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme under the banner 'High Speed North'.
The positive news will be a big relief to construction companies already involved in the project, and to the UK construction industry as a whole. So far, HS2 has awarded almost £12bn worth of contracts to construction firms, which began work on the first phase of the new network in 2017.
Boris Johnson gave the good news following a meeting with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid a few weeks ago. The government believes HS2 is needed to reduce overcrowding on the existing rail network, as well as improve links between major cities, particularly those in the north of England. The high-speed rail line will also cut travel times between its 25 stations (new and existing/rejuvenated) and help the UK transition to a net-zero carbon economy. According to HS2’s website, “for every £1 spent on HS2 the UK will receive £2.30 in benefits.”
Despite those positives, HS2 has been marred by reports of spiralling costs. The latest build estimate, leaked to the Financial Times in January, tops £106bn, which is almost double the £56bn projected in 2015 – all of which must be covered by UK taxpayers. According to the project’s chairman Allan Cook, one reason for the increased cost is the lack of in-depth soil surveys carried out on the line’s route before work started, which has caused problems during excavation. It is believed the revised plan for HS2 will ultimately make the cost more digestible to the public and opposition in Parliament.
The first stage of HS2 will see a new railway line connect London and Birmingham by 2028 to 2031 (the original date was by the end of 2026), before stations in Manchester and Leeds open in 2035 to 2040. Scheduled to run as frequently as 14 times per hour in each direction, the trains for High Speed 2 will be capable of up to 225mph on some parts of the line, and carry as many as 1,100 passengers each.
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Images: hs2.org.uk
