Rail industry organisations have broadly welcomed the Government’s decision to “reset” HS2 following a speech by the Secretary of State for Transport, which set out a revised cost and schedule for the project and aimed to draw a line under years of uncertainty.
Responding to the announcement, a spokesperson for the High Speed Rail Group said the move finally provides the direction that industry and delivery bodies have long been seeking.
“Certainty and clear direction is what HS2 has long needed, and this announcement of a new cost and schedule provides a path forward against which HS2 Ltd, industry and Government can work together to deliver for the country.
The challenges that have affected HS2 to date are now well understood across government, delivery bodies and the wider supply chain. There is a shared responsibility for all parties to learn from them. It is also essential that the lessons learned are now applied collectively to the current and future infrastructure projects, providing the stability and continuity needed for industry partners to deliver effectively.”
The Group stressed that HS2 remains a project of national significance, highlighting the scale of employment and skills it continues to support across the UK.
“HS2 remains a project of enormous national importance. It is supporting over 30,000 jobs, sustaining highly skilled workers and apprenticeships, and supporting SMEs and supply chains across all regions of the UK. It is vital that we retain these skills and capabilities so they continue to deliver long term value for the UK. The bridges, viaducts and tunnels delivered so far are also a testament to our nation’s continued engineering excellence.”
Beyond the immediate construction programme, the High Speed Rail Group underlined the long‑term economic and transport benefits HS2 is intended to deliver, particularly in terms of capacity and connectivity.
“Beyond construction, HS2 will provide lasting economic and transport benefits through increased passenger and freight capacity, improved regional connectivity, regeneration opportunities and broader economic growth.”
While the project has faced significant disruption to its delivery timetable, the Group pointed to evidence that benefits are already emerging around key sites.
“As construction continues and despite setbacks to the delivery timeline, these benefits are already materialising. In Birmingham, there has been a significant increase in regeneration and investment activity close to the two HS2 stations, Birmingham Curzon Street and Interchange, while at Old Oak Common in London, construction is progressing at pace. The project is expected to generate an estimated £10 billion economic uplift across West London over the next decade.”
However, the Group also warned that HS2’s success depends on how effectively it connects into the wider rail network, particularly north of the currently authorised route.
“HS2 should be the spine of a modern, integrated national railway that connects communities North, South, East and West. However, the success of HS2 depends not only on what is already being built, but on how it connects into the wider network. Without a credible plan for the connection to Crewe and beyond, there is a real risk the wider economic and capacity benefits the line was designed to deliver will not be unlocked.”
The spokesperson concluded by urging closer collaboration following the reset.
“With this reset, a line can start to be drawn under years of uncertainty.”
“The priority now is for industry, Government and HS2 Ltd to work together to deliver HS2 within its revised scope, whilst developing a clear plan for how the new railway connects to the existing network further north.”
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) also welcomed the announcement, describing the clarity on budget and schedule as a critical step forward for the sector.
RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan said:
“The Railway Industry Association welcomes the clarity on the budget and schedule for the construction of HS2 announced today by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. It is hugely important that decisions on line speed and cost have now been agreed, and of course lessons need to be learned as the scheme moves forward to delivery in the months and years ahead.
‘This new line is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the UK, in terms of delivering economic growth, jobs and housing, as well as ensuring there is crucial new rail capacity on the currently congested West Coast Main Line. Completion of the route must now be the priority, as well as confirmation on how HS2 will integrate into the existing network, as the railway industry moves towards the establishment of Great British Railways next year.’”
The reset marks a pivotal moment for HS2, with industry leaders now looking for sustained stability, firm political commitment and a credible long‑term plan to ensure the railway delivers its full economic and capacity potential.
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