HS2 Line Delayed Further As Costs Rise
Britain's troubled HS2 rail project has once again hit the headlines, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander saying on Wednesday in Parliament that there’s “no reasonable way” to finish it on time or within budget. Originally set to cost £30bn and open by 2026, the latest price tag has ballooned to over £80bn, with the expected opening date now in the mid-2030s. Alexander slammed previous Conservative governments for blowing billions on cancelled sections and ineffective contracts, calling the situation “an appalling mess.”
The project, which aimed to link London with northern cities, has been repeatedly scaled back. The eastern leg to Leeds and the route to Manchester have both been scrapped, despite £2bn already spent on preparations. A separate review by former Crossrail chief James Stewart revealed 89 recommendations to fix what he called a "fundamental lack of trust" and poor oversight. Meanwhile, new chair Mike Brown has been appointed to try and steer HS2 back on track.
Adding fuel to the fire, allegations of fraud have surfaced. Whistleblower Stephen Cresswell won £319,070 after an employment tribunal ruled HS2 Ltd failed to protect him when he raised concerns about officials allegedly misrepresenting the true costs. While HS2 denied any fraud occurred, Alexander vowed swift investigations into the claims, warning that "too many dark corners" had allowed failure to thrive.
