HS2 costs could top £100bn and trains will be slower than first planned

The cost estimate for Britain's HS2 high-speed rail line has risen to a range of £87.7bn to £102.7bn, with train services now delayed until at least 2036 and top speeds reduced to save money, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced ^[1][2].

In a statement to the House of Commons, Alexander said services will not start until between 2036 and 2039, up to six years later than the previous 2033 target ^[1][2]. She attributed the ballooning costs and delays to a "litany of failure" inherited from the previous government. "Instead of signalling the country's ambition, HS2 became a signal of the country's decline," she told MPs ^[1][2]. The new cost range, given in 2025 prices, is roughly double the original £50.1bn forecast from 2013 when adjusted for comparison ^[1]. As of March 2026, £44.2bn has already been spent on the project ^[2]. Alexander stated that two-thirds of the cost increase stems from previous cost underestimates, inefficient delivery, and missed scope, with the remaining third due to inflation ^[2]. To control costs, the trains' top speed will be reduced from the originally planned 360km/h to 320km/h, a move the government says could save up to £2.5bn ^[1][2]. Despite the setbacks, Alexander vowed the government would deliver the project "to completion," arguing that cancellation could cost nearly as much while delivering none of the benefits ^[1][2].