There have been discussions regarding High Speed Two (HS2) for more than a decade, yet opinions are still divided.
The vision of HS2 is to connect industries throughout the country, increase job availability and substantially reduce travel times, with trains travelling at speeds of up to 250mph.
The West Midlands Combined Authority has predicted that HS2 will create 100,000 jobs throughout the entire region and bring £14 billion to the local economy.
What are the High Speed Two phase plans?
HS2 phase one
The first phase of HS2 will run from London Euston to Birmingham and was originally predicted to be completed by 2026. Current journey times between these destinations are one hour and 21 minutes. HS2 will reduce this travel time to 49 minutes.
HS2 phase two
The second phase will split into two routes. One running from Birmingham to Manchester, cutting journey times from one hour and 28 minutes down to 41 minutes.
The second line of phase two will run from Birmingham to Leeds resulting in travel time decreasing from one hour and 58 minutes to just 57 minutes.
What is the HS2 route and travel time predictions?
HS2 Route | Current Travel Times | Predicted Travel Times |
Birmingham - London Euston | 1 hour, 21 minutes | 49 minutes |
Birmingham - Manchester | 1 hour, 28 minutes | 41 minutes |
Birmingham - Leeds | 1 hour, 58 minutes | 57 minutes |
Growing concerns
The Government is carrying out an independent review of High Speed Two’s proposal and will publish the results of that review in 2020.
Budget concerns over HS2 cost
There are increasing concerns that the £55.7 billion budget is an incorrect representation of the required costs. The original budget was estimated by The Department for Transport at £30 billion for the entire network (although this figure does not include the Manchester Airport station, as this would be funded locally). This prediction was increased in 2013 and the transport minister has since stated that the cost of High Speed Two has increased to £81 - £88 billion.
HS2 delays
Grant Shapps, the Transport Minister, has stated that phase one of the HS2 project is currently delayed by up to five years. Phase one was originally targeting completion by 2026. It is now predicted that trains will not begin running until 2028 - 2031.
Similarly, phase two was originally set to open between 2032 - 2033 and has now been delayed to 2045 - 2040
Whilst construction work is continuing to go ahead, the government will not decide on whether to continue or scrap the project until the beginning of 2020.