HS2 rail plans rated “unachievable” by official watchdog

The rail project has experienced multiple delays and cost hikes

Earlier this month, HS2 Ltd’s chief executive Mark Thurston announced his resignation (PA)

HS2 has been given a rating of “unachievable” by an official watchdog, as the construction of the high-speed link experiences further delays.

The project’s first two phases – London to Birmingham and then on to Crewe in Cheshire – have been given a “red” warning by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), which reports to the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury.

The red rating, which appears in the IPA’s annual report on major projects, says: “Successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable.

“There are major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable. The project may need re-scoping and/or its overall viability reassessed.”

HS2’s London to Birmingham phase was scheduled to be opened in 2026, but is now expected to be ready between 2026 and 2029, as infrastructure issues, cost rises and delays continue to affect the construction of the high-speed rail service.

The cost of the project, which was estimated at around £33bn in 2010, is now expected to reach £71bn, with the government further delaying work on the Birmingham to Crewe leg in a bid to reduce spending.

Earlier this month, HS2’s chief executive, Mark Thurston, announced his resignation from the government-owned company. He is due to leave his role in September after a six-and-a-half-year tenure.

Mr Thurston’s resignation announcement came as construction work on the London to Birmingham phase of the project hit its peak, with major work taking place at more than 350 sites.

Transport secretary Mark Harper announced in March that work at Euston would be paused for two years, as costs for the project had risen from £2.6bn to £4.8bn, with the government trying to find an “affordable” design for the station.

The Department for Transport says it remains committed to delivering the high-speed network.

A spokesperson for the department said: “Spades are already in the ground on HS2, with 350 construction sites, over £20bn invested to date, and supporting over 28,500 jobs. We remain committed to delivering HS2 in the most cost-effective way for taxpayers.

“HS2 will bring transformational benefits for generations to come, improving connections and helping grow the economy.”