HE BRAKES could be put on HS2 trains to save cash.
The government this week told HS2 Ltd to explore options to remove complexity that could cut billions in costs and reduce delays for the project.
The original cost of the controversial hi-speed line was estimated at £37.5billion, but that figure has since spiralled to over £100billion.
And the line linking London and Birmingham – of which some 54 kilometres of the 190km track will cut through the heart of Warwickshire – was originally scheduled to open later this year, but is now not expected until after 2033.
The latest move comes as part of the government’s reset of the line following years of mismanagement.
As part of his reset of the project, HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild will explore other high-speed options for the railway, which could save taxpayers billions and reduce construction time.
HS2 was originally commissioned to run at 360km/h, which would have made them the fastest conventional high-speed trains anywhere in the world.
But no railway in the UK, or globally, is currently engineered for 360km/h.
This means that HS2 would have to wait for HS2 tracks to be built before testing any trains – an approach which could increase costs and delay the completion of the project.
These options would have negligible impact on projected journey times and get passengers onto trains sooner.
The move would bring HS2 in line with proven high-speed models such as HS1, Japan’s bullet trains, and France’s TGV network which all run at 300-320km/h.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “This Government is determined to deliver HS2 as effectively and efficiently as possible. In doing so, I will look at every opportunity to claw back construction time, save taxpayers money and ensure the project delivers for the country.
“I share the public’s anger about the waste and mess of the past which is why this Government is pulling HS2 out of its sclerosis and setting it on a more sensible course.
“We’re getting a grip, controlling costs, and getting on with delivering the transport infrastructure this country needs.”
After investigating further opportunities to bring down costs and delivery timelines, Mr Wild will report back to the transport secretary in the summer, alongside a progress update.
Mr Wild, who was appointed last year to put the project back on track, said: “I made a commitment to the transport secretary that I would regain control of HS2 and bring an end to the project’s cost increases and delays.
“With performance moving in the right direction, driven by the hard work of 30,000 people on the ground, we are rightly exploring options to create further efficiencies.
“Speed has never been the primary objective. This railway will deliver better journeys, more capacity on the network, and economic growth – all of which are vital to the country’s future prosperity.”
