HS2 project costs balloon to over £66 billion amid ongoing delays
- The HS2 high-speed rail project in the UK has been plagued by escalating costs and delays.
- Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander plans to announce that these delays will extend well beyond the initial target date of 2033.
- The current situation has led to serious debate about the future viability of the HS2 project and its management.
In the UK, the high-speed rail project HS2 has faced significant setbacks, leading to an announcement regarding delays that push the timeline beyond 2033. The announcement comes amid revelations of increasing expenses, with a report indicating that costs have inflated by £37 billion since 2012. These issues stem from prior mismanagement, design changes, and lengthy negotiations that have caused deals to fail. Consequently, the government seeks to draw lessons from HS2's challenges to improve future infrastructure projects, like the Northern Powerhouse Rail and Lower Thames Crossing, while also addressing new leadership at HS2 Ltd to oversee these improvements. The situation has drawn criticism toward the previous Conservative government, which is perceived to have mishandled the project, contributing to the rising costs and delays, leading to discussions on whether to complete HS2 as originally planned or to consider alternatives to limit or halt funding.