Speed or Capacity? The Pricey Lessons of HS2

Double the budget, half the line

HS2, or High Speed 2, was supposed to be an exciting new railway project for the UK, but it’s turned into a bit of a mess.

Originally, the plan was to build a fast rail line connecting London to major northern cities like Manchester and Leeds. But now, after spending more than double the original budget, we’re only getting about half of the line.

Sold as a high-speed project

It all started back in the 1980s when British rail experts were inspired by France’s super-fast TGV trains. They imagined sleek trains zipping through England at high speeds, which sounded like a great idea.

A 2006 report even suggested that Britain needed more rail capacity, but speed wasn’t a big priority at the time. However, HS2 was sold as a high-speed project, and that’s where the big costs began.

Building a fast train isn’t cheap. For a train to go 230 mph, it needs to run on a very straight track, and that often meant building through areas of natural beauty, like the Chilterns.

This led to opposition from locals and costly demands for tunnels to hide the trains, driving up the price.

As the years went by, the cost of HS2 kept rising. What started at ￡32 billion in 2011 jumped to ￡50 billion by 2013, and by 2019, it had ballooned to nearly ￡80 billion.

There were also concerns about how taxpayer money was being spent, with some accusations that the project leadership were never transparent about its true costs.

Political meddling

Along the way, HS2 faced political challenges. Each new prime minister seemed to have their own take on the project, but it never got the full attention it needed, especially during the Brexit years.

In the end, the line to Leeds was cut. More recently, the Manchester extension was scrapped. What’s left is a line from London to Birmingham that ends in the suburbs - not even reaching central London due to budget constraints.

People like Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, think this whole saga should be a warning about how public money is spent on big projects.

While some argue that the extra rail capacity HS2 will bring is worth the trouble, many feel the project has overspent massively while delivering far less than promised.

HS2 could be remembered less for its promised speed and more for its bloated budget and boosted rail capacity.

Many can’t help but wonder:

Could this entire project have been smoother—and far cheaper—if we’d focused on capacity from the very start?

It's time to focus on execution

With the scope narrowed and costs already soaring, now is the time to prioritise smart, efficient execution.

HS2 must make sure that every penny spent on the London to Birmingham leg truly delivers—faster trains, increased capacity, and real value for the taxpayer.

As we move forward, transparency and accountability are key to making this program a success. Now is the opportunity to build a future-proof railway that serves the nation for decades to come.