Britain is building the most expensive railway in the world. Many people now think it’s pointless
55 years, 3 months ago

Britain is building the most expensive railway in the world. Many people now think it’s pointless

CNN  

CNN — Building new railways is an expensive business. Only the equally troubled $128-billion California High Speed Rail project in the United States comes close to matching HS2’s soaring costs, with some estimates suggesting that it could top out at $200 million per mile. “The project has become emblematic of Britain’s inability to complete big infrastructure projects.” Railway journalist, author and long-time HS2 skeptic Christian Wolmar told CNN Travel the project was likely doomed from the start, with a soaring price tag partly down to simple design flaws. As journalist Wolmar points out, Spain has built an entire high-speed rail network of 2,500 miles for around $65 billion, which in the UK won’t even cover the cost of HS2’s 140 miles from Birmingham to the London suburbs. “With rail passenger levels only just returning to pre-Covid levels and the nation’s coffers almost empty, the country is left with a ludicrously expensive venture that, in its current mutilated form, is essentially pointless.” HS2 supporters maintain that the biggest benefits of the original “Y” shaped route would have been generated away from London, in the long-neglected post-industrial regions of the Midlands and northern England.

Europe England Spain London Construction Costs Building Railway Cost Billion Britain Line Rail Manchester Birmingham Euston Crewe Hs2 Construction Costs Expensive Wolmar  building  britain  railway  rail  expensive  construction  uk  costs  cost  think  line  hs2  london  billion  pointless  world

History of this topic

Ministers looking at ‘pipeline of schemes’ to run HS2 north of Birmingham
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Ministers looking at ‘pipeline of schemes’ to run HS2 north of Birmingham

Hindustan Times  

Ministers are looking at a “realistic pipeline of schemes” to link HS2 to destinations north of Birmingham, the Transport Secretary has said. Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon accused Labour of having triggered an “ongoing decline in reliability” across the country, as a result of a pay deal last year with the Aslef trade union. “But what I want to …

Government still does not know how much HS2 will cost, MPs told
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Government still does not know how much HS2 will cost, MPs told

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dame Bernadette Kelly said: “I say with great regret, sitting before the committee, that …

HS2 costs could hit £66bn, progress report says
3 months, 2 weeks ago

HS2 costs could hit £66bn, progress report says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The cost of building HS2 …

‘HS2 light’ link to Manchester could replace scrapped line beyond Birmingham
5 months, 3 weeks ago

‘HS2 light’ link to Manchester could replace scrapped line beyond Birmingham

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ministers are considering a “HS2 light” railway line linking Birmingham and Manchester as part of a …

HS2: High-speed rail line will end at London Euston, transport secretary Louise Haigh indicates
5 months, 3 weeks ago

HS2: High-speed rail line will end at London Euston, transport secretary Louise Haigh indicates

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The transport secretary has indicated that HS2 will run into central …

New report reveals slower and cheaper alternative to scrapped HS2 route
6 months, 3 weeks ago

New report reveals slower and cheaper alternative to scrapped HS2 route

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The alternative route between Staffordshire and Cheshire, which would connect …

After HS2: Will spending £36bn on regional transport improve your commute? Don’t bank on it…
1 year, 5 months ago

After HS2: Will spending £36bn on regional transport improve your commute? Don’t bank on it…

The Independent  

It’s a bittersweet moment for England’s railway passengers. As the prime minister swings his axe into HS2, lopping the line to Manchester and the stump to the East Midlands, he’s gambling that the series of smaller, tactical transport improvements he announced – matching “every single penny” of the high-speed extension’s £36bn cost – can make up for his strategic retreat. …

Cancelling HS2 is only the start of the Conservatives’ Great Train Robbery
1 year, 5 months ago

Cancelling HS2 is only the start of the Conservatives’ Great Train Robbery

The Independent  

Once Rishi Sunak confirms the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2, the high-speed rail line will stand as a permanent and embarrassing monument to British failure. With as much as £28bn now spent and probably the same amount again needed to finish it, HS2 – a project first proposed in 2008 – remains shrouded in mystery. Sunak, who is …

HS2 scrapped: ‘Biggest two fingers to the North in decades’: Locals hit out at plans to scrap HS2
1 year, 6 months ago

HS2 scrapped: ‘Biggest two fingers to the North in decades’: Locals hit out at plans to scrap HS2

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Residents and business leaders have slammed the government’s decision to …

Key dates of the HS2 rail project
1 year, 6 months ago

Key dates of the HS2 rail project

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. – July 2017 HS2 Ltd accepts it was a “serious error” to make £1.76 …

Key dates of the HS2 rail project
1 year, 6 months ago

Key dates of the HS2 rail project

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. – July 2017 HS2 Ltd accepts it was a “serious error” to make £1.76 …

HS2: What is it, how much has it cost and how have the plans changed?
1 year, 6 months ago

HS2: What is it, how much has it cost and how have the plans changed?

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Prime Minister is reportedly considering axing plans for the HS2 …

High-speed rail was touted as a game-changer in Britain. Costs are making the government think twice
1 year, 6 months ago

High-speed rail was touted as a game-changer in Britain. Costs are making the government think twice

Associated Press  

LONDON — The British government confirmed Sunday it may scrap a big chunk of an overdue and over-budget high-speed rail line once touted as a way to attract jobs and investment to northern England. “We’ve seen very, very high global inflation in a way that no government could have predicted,” said Shapps, a former transportation secretary who now serves as …

Sunak set to cut off HS2’s northern leg as costs spiral – reports
1 year, 6 months ago

Sunak set to cut off HS2’s northern leg as costs spiral – reports

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And in a letter to the Prime Minister, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said HS2 …

Labour not guilty of ‘great rail betrayal’ over HS2, Sir Keir Starmer insists
1 year, 6 months ago

Labour not guilty of ‘great rail betrayal’ over HS2, Sir Keir Starmer insists

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he is not guilty of …

Ministers accused of ‘rail betrayal’ as they refuse to confirm HS2 to Manchester
1 year, 6 months ago

Ministers accused of ‘rail betrayal’ as they refuse to confirm HS2 to Manchester

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Tories’ flagship levelling up project that reaches neither the North of England nor …

Labour studying HS2 costs amid questions over fate of Manchester leg
1 year, 6 months ago

Labour studying HS2 costs amid questions over fate of Manchester leg

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Fresh questions have been asked about the fate of the …

Labour refuses to commit to finishing HS2 rail project in full
1 year, 6 months ago

Labour refuses to commit to finishing HS2 rail project in full

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour is refusing to commit to completing the HS2 in full …

HS2 Stage 2 could be scrapped: Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt 'in talks to axe high speed rail route north of Birmingham' to save £34billion ahead of the next election (after already spending £2.3billion
1 year, 6 months ago

HS2 Stage 2 could be scrapped: Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt 'in talks to axe high speed rail route north of Birmingham' to save £34billion ahead of the next election (after already spending £2.3billion

Daily Mail  

Rishi Sunak is facing widespread anger today amid claims that the second stage of the controversial HS2 high-speed rail line could be axed to save money. Tory MP Michael Fabricant said scrapping Phase 2 would be 'sensible' and would protect rural areas north of his Litchfield constituency, where Phase 1 will join the current West Coast mainline. The Prime Minister's …

HS2 rail plans rated “unachievable” by official watchdog
1 year, 8 months ago

HS2 rail plans rated “unachievable” by official watchdog

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy HS2 has been given a rating of “unachievable” by an …

HS2 boss says delays among options being explored to curb rising costs
2 years, 1 month ago

HS2 boss says delays among options being explored to curb rising costs

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The HS2 rail project could be delayed among a number …

HS2 ‘should be cancelled’ amid reports it may not run to central London
2 years, 2 months ago

HS2 ‘should be cancelled’ amid reports it may not run to central London

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I think the whole thing …

HS2 boss hails ‘immense progress’
2 years, 3 months ago

HS2 boss hails ‘immense progress’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Protesters plan ‘national day of action’ over HS2 rail expansion
3 years, 2 months ago

Protesters plan ‘national day of action’ over HS2 rail expansion

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A Stop HS2 North spokesperson said nationwide action, events and solidarity protests will be …

How has the cost of HS2 grown since the scheme was announced?
4 years, 10 months ago

How has the cost of HS2 grown since the scheme was announced?

The Independent  

Today’s devastating parliamentary report on HS2 is one of the loudest declarations yet of MPs’ unhappiness with the way the government is handling its biggest infrastructure project. The key recommendation of the cross-party Public Accounts Committee is that the government should commit within three months to a schedule of regular updates to parliament containing a “realistic appraisal of the programme’s …

HS2: Boris Johnson set to give green light for multi-billion pound rail project
5 years, 1 month ago

HS2: Boris Johnson set to give green light for multi-billion pound rail project

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham today appealed for him to put the section north of …

Upgrading existing railways instead of building HS2 would cause ‘absurd disruption’ for passengers, Network Rail chief warns
5 years, 2 months ago

Upgrading existing railways instead of building HS2 would cause ‘absurd disruption’ for passengers, Network Rail chief warns

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Haines added: “It’s very easy to talk about alternatives to HS2 but the disruption …

HS2 is the only option for Britain’s railways
5 years, 4 months ago

HS2 is the only option for Britain’s railways

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. HS2 will take express trains off the West Coast Main Line that links London …

HS2 may be a mess, but it’s still essential for the future of UK rail travel
5 years, 6 months ago

HS2 may be a mess, but it’s still essential for the future of UK rail travel

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. As you may …

HS2: Boris Johnson’s government announces review into whether major rail project should be axed
5 years, 7 months ago

HS2: Boris Johnson’s government announces review into whether major rail project should be axed

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Federation of …

Scrapping HS2 would be a worse idea than Boris’s garden bridge
5 years, 8 months ago

Scrapping HS2 would be a worse idea than Boris’s garden bridge

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It would …

Mounting Cabinet revolt threatens to sink the HS2 rail link
6 years, 1 month ago

Mounting Cabinet revolt threatens to sink the HS2 rail link

Daily Mail  

A growing Cabinet revolt is threatening to sink the HS2 rail link. Ministers are alarmed by the project’s spiralling costs and are ‘increasingly minded to kill it off’, says a senior source Although ministers publicly insist it will go ahead, the Cabinet source told of rising dissent. HS2 opponents are said to include Theresa May’s deputy David Lidington Tonight’s investigation, …

Ministers 'keen to kill of HS2' over budget concerns Dispatches The Great Train Robbery reveals
6 years, 1 month ago

Ministers 'keen to kill of HS2' over budget concerns Dispatches The Great Train Robbery reveals

Daily Mail  

Government ministers are 'keen to kill off' HS2 as costs threaten to spiral out of control, it was claimed today. But senior government sources have now said they are 'actively considering' scrapping the scheme amid fears the bill could hit £6billion a year - roughly equivalent to the total for the rest of the rail network put together. Under the …

Now we learn that HS2 will cause 'far worse' damage than expected, it confirms this is a flawed project
6 years, 5 months ago

Now we learn that HS2 will cause 'far worse' damage than expected, it confirms this is a flawed project

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy We report …

Destruction from HS2 ‘far worse’ than previously thought as hundreds of homes set for demolition
6 years, 5 months ago

Destruction from HS2 ‘far worse’ than previously thought as hundreds of homes set for demolition

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Almost 900 homes, 1,000 businesses and around 60 “irreplaceable” ancient woodlands will be destroyed by …

Race on contract to build Britain's fastest trains for HS2 link
7 years, 5 months ago

Race on contract to build Britain's fastest trains for HS2 link

China Daily  

A electronic billboard promoting the HS2 transport link development and the city of Birmingham is seen during the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Britain, Oct 2, 2016. LONDON - The names of five bidders vying to win a 2.75-billion-pound contract to build Britain's fastest-ever trains were revealed Thursday by HS2 Ltd, the state-backed company behind the country's high-speed rail …

HS2 'will be most expensive railway on Earth at £403m a mile'
7 years, 8 months ago

HS2 'will be most expensive railway on Earth at £403m a mile'

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain’s new high-speed rail line will be the most expensive …

HS2 in danger of coming off the rails as problems multiply
9 years ago

HS2 in danger of coming off the rails as problems multiply

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. • There are fears the 1,300-person project team, HS2 Ltd, isn’t ready to oversee …

It doesn’t help that HS2 has become such a cause celebre
10 years, 11 months ago

It doesn’t help that HS2 has become such a cause celebre

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour’s support …

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