HS2's structures should have been ‘largely completed' by now
Notice to proceed was granted by the government in April 2020.
This is a huge, considerable, maybe the biggest civil engineering project ever undertaken in this country. The facts are, in the first two years of effort, we simply didn't make enough progress Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd
Mr Wild blamed cost overruns on the awarding of contracts which meant the government held all the risk in case of problems, and failings of HS2 Ltd.
He said the coronavirus pandemic and the rise in inflation caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine had also had an impact.
Phase One of HS2 between London and Birmingham was initially planned to open by the end of 2026.
This was later pushed back to between 2029 and 2033, but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said last month there was 'no route' to meeting that timeframe.
In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds.
In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion.
HS2 workers gather to observe boring machine Mary Ann breaking through at Washwood Heath depot near Birmingham city centre (Jacob King/PA)
Mr Wild, who was appointed late last year, told the Commons Transport Select Committee: 'The construction of the civil engineering should have been largely completed by now.
'The reality is we're about 60% complete.'
He added: 'The whole scheme, which includes, of course, the tracks, the overhead lines, the trains, the system integration, we're about a third complete.'
Mr Wild described the project as 'a unique challenge in this country'.
He went on: 'A third of this route is actually underground or in cuttings.
'This is a huge, considerable, maybe the biggest civil engineering project ever undertaken in this country.
'The facts are, in the first two years of effort, we simply didn't make enough progress.'
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a day ago
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3 days ago
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South Yorkshire residents' relief at end of HS2 restrictions
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Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- Scottish Sun
First look inside UK's new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the ‘most comfortable seats ever'
Packed with hidden comforts and one clever fix passengers have begged for ON TRACK First look inside UK's new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the 'most comfortable seats ever' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE public is getting a first look inside Britain's new £2billion high-speed trains, featuring underseat luggage storage. In Derby, this weekend, train enthusiasts will be able to step aboard a full-size model of HS2's new Class 895 train at Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion Credit: HS2 The replica carriage is part of 'The Greatest Gathering', a landmark event celebrating 200 years of the British railway, offering visitors a first-hand look at what the future of rail travel might look like. The sleek new interiors have been developed by HS2 Ltd, the West Coast Partnership and the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed team. The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion. These trains are expected to run at speeds of up to 360 km/h, and will be able to continue beyond the HS2 line on existing tracks to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world. Inside the carriage, the standard class seats promise what HS2 calls 'market-leading' legroom at 87 centimetres. Passengers will also get USB-C and 3-pin charging sockets, dropdown tables, small shelves for devices, and handy coat hooks. The seats recline without tipping backwards, thanks to a clever sliding mechanism, a much-needed upgrade for passengers fed up with stiff, upright seating on older UK services. This public unveiling marks the first time people can physically experience the carriage design after concept images were released in late 2024. It comes at a crucial time for HS2, which has faced rising public pressure and political scrutiny over its soaring costs and long delays. Officials hope the new trains will help restore some excitement around a project that has often struggled to win hearts or headlines for the right reasons. Recent HS2 stories have highlighted both progress and pain. In London, major milestones have been reached at Old Oak Common, the capital's new £2billion 'super station'. New 400-metre platforms have been laid and work is ramping up to prepare the site for up to 250,000 passengers a day. But in stark contrast, residents in places like Burton Green, Warwickshire, say the rail line has brought nothing but chaos. A 700-metre tunnel has sliced the village in half, and locals complain of years of noise, disruption and falling house prices, many say the project no longer benefits them in any way. Earlier this summer, The Sun revealed that HS2 bosses were blowing £1,200 a month on tropical office plants while project costs continued to climb. The London to Birmingham section alone is now expected to cost between £49bn and £67bn, with £27bn already spent. 3 The line itself is now far behind schedule It's just one of several recent examples that have drawn criticism over how taxpayer money is being used. The line itself is now far behind schedule. Originally pitched as a Y-shaped high-speed network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, the project has been scaled back to a single leg between London and Birmingham. Even this stretch isn't expected to open until at least 2033 — more than ten years behind its original target. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild recently told MPs that early mistakes, including awarding major civil engineering contracts before final designs were ready, led to ballooning costs. The price of civil works has risen from £19.5bn to £26bn. Wild says the project is now in a full reset phase, with delivery teams being rebuilt and construction work only moving forward when designs are fully mature. Still, there are bright spots. The 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct, one of the project's most visible feats, is nearing completion after years of careful work. The twin-bore Chiltern Tunnel was completed earlier this year, and the enormous Northolt Tunnel under west London broke through in June 2025 after four giant boring machines worked for months to finish the job. So while passengers can now glimpse the inside of HS2's trains — and enjoy a seat that might finally deliver comfort at speed — the reality is that the journeys they're built for are still a long way off. 3 Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world Credit: HS2 The trains may be ready, but the track ahead remains far from clear.
