The UK’s scandal-plagued HS2 rail project faces a significant delay, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander revealing that it may not be finished for another 17 years. The anticipated cost to complete the project now ranges between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion. Initial services are expected to commence between 2036 and 2039, with full completion potentially stretching to 2043.

Originally scheduled for a 2026 launch, the first phase of the railway has been beset by delays, attributed by Alexander to a series of failures under previous Conservative administrations. The focus on achieving record speeds, which would have made HS2 the fastest conventional high-speed train globally at 360km/h, has been criticized as a costly “vanity project.”

To cut costs and construction time, the speed of HS2 trains will be reduced to 320km/h, aligning it with other high-speed rail models like HS1, Japan’s bullet trains, and France’s TGV network. This decision follows a comprehensive review of HS2’s shortcomings by former National Security Advisor Sir Stephen Lovegrove, highlighting the detrimental impact of shifting objectives and political priorities.

Ruth Cadbury, chair of the transport select committee, emphasized the importance of setting realistic and achievable target dates for the project. The escalating budget for the London-Birmingham line, initially estimated at £32.7 billion in 2011, has raised concerns. Despite considerations of scrapping the project, it was found that abandoning it would incur costs similar to completion.

Mark Wild from HS2 Ltd warned against cancelling such a large-scale program, citing unprecedented challenges in the Western world. The High Speed Rail Group stressed the need for a collaborative effort to learn from past mistakes and ensure successful delivery of HS2 within the revised scope. The focus now lies on integrating the new railway with the existing network further north for a comprehensive transport solution.