The total cost of HS2 could now top £102.7bn and trains may not start running until 2039 – six years later than the most recent target of 2033, transport secretary Heidi Alexander has admitted.
The project has since been beset by a string of failures and budget overruns since its inception, including the cancellation of routes ending in Leeds and Manchester. It was originally expected to be completed by 2033, but Alexander had previously said this date was unlikely due to a “litany of failure”.
The government has now announced that the project will cost anywhere between £87.7bn and £102.7bn, with two-thirds of the increase due to works being missed from the scope of the original project plan, underestimation by previous governments and inefficient delivery, and the remaining third due to inflation. As of March this year, some £44.2bn has already been spent on the programme.
It also confirmed that HS2 will run at speeds of 320km/h (200mph), a reduction from the initial proposal that would...