HS2 Limited is delivering the High Speed 2 rail project, a major infrastructure programme connecting London to Manchester and Crewe with high-speed rail services. The project is currently in delivery phase with ongoing parliamentary oversight, budget management challenges, and community engagement, following a strategic reset to address cost and scope.
High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd’s approach to community engagement and what it means for you.
The Department and HS2 Ltd’s failure to work together effectively is starkly illustrated by them not being able to agree how much HS2 will cost. The Department and HS2 Ltd have still not agreed on how much it will cost …
Over the last decade the Department and HS2 Ltd have repeatedly said they are learning lessons but there is little evidence that lessons have been applied effectively and mistakes avoided. Since 2013, the Department and HS2 Ltd have told the …
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Transport (the Department) and High Speed Two Limited (HS2 Ltd) on the current state of the High Speed Two (HS2) programme.1 …
We were told by HS2 Ltd that it would take time to implement the changes needed as part of the programme’s fundamental reset, with all of 2025 needed to ensure the organisation’s activities are all orientated towards delivering Phase 1. …
The Department and HS2 Ltd still disagree on the estimated total costs for completing the programme. Despite using the same data, the Department and HS2 Ltd told us that estimates differ because they disagree over a range of technical factors …
Both the Department and HS2 Ltd told us that they were working together to reach an agreed methodology including drawing on third–party technical advice on cost estimation and, to ensure that the underpinning assumptions of future estimates are agreed, establishing …
Prior to the October 2023 announcement, HS2 Ltd estimated that the total costs of Phase 1 would be £49 billion to £57 billion. The Department’s estimate was lower, at £45 billion to £54 billion but still above the funding envelope …
We expressed to the Department how unsatisfactory we found it that the cost estimates for completing the programme are still in 2019 prices. The Department agreed, telling us that it expects that any funding agreed at the spending review will …
The Department confirmed that as well as agreeing a revised cost for the programme with HS2 Ltd, there will also be challenge from HM Treasury before a revised budget for the programme can be set. It told us that HM …
The Department emphasised the need for a long–term spending profile for the completion of HS2, acknowledging to us that agreeing annual budget settlements was really poor for long–term infrastructure delivery.26 20 C&AG’s Report, para 4.6 and 4.7; Department for Transport, …
HS2 Ltd acknowledged that it has not managed these contract risks in an optimal or coherent way.30 In September 2023, HS2 Ltd estimated that the forecast cost of main civil construction work alone had increased by £6 billion (2019 prices) …
The Department strongly agreed, however, about how the balance between compliance and cost should be considered when delivering national infrastructure in the future.41 HS2 Ltd also recognised that it was a complex issue and a sensitive area, telling us that …
HS2 Ltd also acknowledged in evidence to the previous Committee in November 2023 that it that it needed to think about its capacity and capability throughout the company to deliver the task ahead.47 While HS2 Ltd’s focus in recent years …
HS2 Ltd now has new leadership, with Mark Wild appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and taking up the role in December 2024. He brings his experience of delivering Crossrail into operation and is tasked with delivering the programme’s …
Since 2013, the Department and HS2 Ltd have told the Public Accounts Committee that they have been learning lessons from other major programmes to apply to how they are managing the HS2 programme. For example, in 2019, the Department and …
However, the Committee has needed to recommend repeatedly that the Department and HS2 Ltd improve the degree they reflect on past or current experiences and implement any lessons. In 2020, the previous Committee made clear its dissatisfaction: 80 “Given the …
The previous Public Accounts Committee also concluded in its 2023 report on HS2 Euston that it was another example of the Department making the same mistakes and failing to learn lessons from its management of other major rail programmes, highlighting …
The Department told us that, together with HS2 Ltd, it has worked with HM Treasury and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority to consider all the lessons to date from the HS2 programme but is continuing to ‘mine’ the lessons learned …
The Department reflected that a key lesson from the experience of HS2, and which needs to inform all the Department’s future infrastructure plans, is that the Department needs to be very clear when it sets out on a large project …
Costs have continued to escalate and the Department and HS2 Ltd do not know how much the programme will now cost. This Committee has repeatedly raised concerns about the Department’s and HS2 Ltd’s management of costs. But, despite our warnings …
In our previous reports we have regularly raised concerns about escalating costs and cost forecasts for the HS2 programme. For example, in our May 2020 report we commented that “The High Speed Two programme has gone badly off-course and is …
HS2 Ltd’s most recent estimate for the cost of Phase 1 is that it will be in the range £49 billion to £57 billion (2019 prices). It cites a range of issues as the cause of increases, including “design performance, …
HS2 Ltd told us that its cost estimate had been the result of much detailed analysis and many meetings, all done transparently with the Department. It told us that while Ministers had committed to an opening date between 2029 and …
To explain cost increases since 2020, the Department pointed to several factors including: Covid, inflation, Ukraine, the supply chain and the scale of the cost of dealing with ‘planning and consenting’. It said that poor cost information and cost reporting …
The Department’s November 2023 update to Parliament stated that “No decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 is operational.”33 The Department told us it had developed “an outline train specification that sets out an …
This Order establishes the main new road forming a link road between the A452 Chester Road Northbound and Southbound Slip Roads and the A446 Stonebridge Road Northbound and existing Southbound Slip Roads, in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, and Warwickshire …
Response by the Secretary of State for Transport to the Commons Select Committee's special report regarding the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill.
How High Speed Two (HS2) will meet environmental commitments and the expected impacts on the environment for HS2 Phase 2b (Crewe – Manchester).
Monthly reports of construction noise and vibration monitoring for HS2, taken within local authorities along the Phase One (London to West Midlands) route and Phase 2a (West Midlands to Crewe) route.
The rights of land and property owners affected by the HS2 Phase 2b (Crewe – Manchester) route.
The Department and HM Treasury have not reached a clear understanding about how they would manage high levels of inflation on the HS2 programme, including accessing Government-held contingency. In the 2022 Autumn Statement, HM Treasury confirmed that departments needed to …
The Department’s reports to Parliament on the HS2 Programme did not reflect the significant level of uncertainty in its estimated cost of Euston station. From October 2020 through to its six-monthly update in October 2022, the Department HS2 Euston 7 …
The Department told us that, although budgets are now set, it continues to have discussions with HM Treasury about how it manages inflation on programmes like HS2 in order to deal with any issues that may arise later in the …
One potential source of additional funding to help manage higher costs from inflation and also higher costs at Euston is the government-held £4.3 billion contingency. This was set by the Department in 2020 as part of the £44.6 billion budget …
In response to our May 2020 recommendation on the lack of transparency on the HS2 programme, the Department began providing six-monthly reports to Parliament on progress, including on costs.44 The Department published its first update in October 2020 and, on …
However, HS2 Ltd’s latest cost estimate of £4.8 billion is significantly higher than previously reported, at £2.2 billion over the budget.49 The Department told us that it did not know of the £4.8 billion estimate until HS2 Ltd reported it …
HS2 Ltd explained that it had not expected to have an estimate of costs that it was confident in until the end of 2022 following work by the construction partner on a detailed, ‘bottom-up’ costing of the design.55 This followed …
Prior to our evidence session, the Department had published its latest six-monthly update to Parliament in October 2022. It did not publish an update six months later in March 2023. Following our evidence session on 24 April 2023, the Department …
Information relating to the operational elements of HS2 Phase 2b (Crewe – Manchester), including station works, maintenance facilities and freight movements.
This report from HS2 Ltd reviews the ground conditions, the associated risks, and the mitigation measures for the Phase 2b Proposed Scheme.
Local stakeholders and the Government have very different views on the likely merit and cost of the underground station option at Manchester Piccadilly. There are considerable cost and practical challenges to delivering this solution, though we recognise the benefits of …
How HS2 Ltd has engaged with people impacted by Phase 2b (Crewe – Manchester) and information on future engagement activities with affected communities.
Direction given by the Secretary of State for Transport under Section 50 of the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017.
In August 2020, Crossrail Ltd announced that up to £1.1 billion of further funding would be needed to complete the programme. In December 2020, the government agreed to loan the Greater London Assembly (GLA) £825 million to complete the programme, …
In April 2019 we reported that the Department, TfL and the previous Crossrail Ltd management team had focussed on a fixed delivery date of December 2018, which led to warning signs that programme was in trouble being missed or ignored.45 …
The Department also referred to the lessons it and HS2 Ltd have learnt from the difficulties Crossrail had in integrating the 36 main works contracts and ensuring that they work together. Informed by the Crossrail experience, at our June 2021 …
HS2 Ltd has started planning how it will integrate its systems for Phase One to ensure the railway works, but this is an inherently risky part of the programme. We previously raised concerns that, given the scale of the programme …
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Transport (the Department) and High Speed Two Limited (HS2 Ltd) on the High Speed 2 programme.1 We also took evidence from …
In our 2020 report we recommended that the Department publish regular reports on progress to Parliament, including a realistic appraisal of the programme’s likelihood of delivering to budget and schedule.18 HS2 Ltd and the Department reported £0.8 billion in cost …
Euston station is a key element of HS2 and will be an important transport hub and business area, with potential opportunities for economic regeneration at the wider site. It is intended to be the London terminus of the High Speed …
We asked the Department what assurances it could give that whatever happened at Euston, it would not affect the delivery of the programme overall.36 The Department provided us with details of the assurance process it follows more broadly on the …
The High Speed 2 programme has many interdependent elements, including stations, infrastructure and railway systems. We raised concerns in our previous report that, given the scale of the programme and its future impact on the rail network, if the Department …
The Department recognised two primary risks in relation to railway systems: the physical practicalities of different contractors working on the ground together; and, systems not integrating effectively.41 We asked HS2 Ltd how it planned to avoid the issues with railway …
HS2 Ltd recognised that the integration of railway systems would be crucial and explained that it planned to establish a collaborative alliance amongst the main railway systems contractors to encourage them to work together to deliver the integrated systems. Although …
The Department and HS2 Ltd have repeatedly promised that High Speed 2 will bring about a wide range of benefits that go beyond the increase in capacity and reduction of journey times on routes between major cities. These promised benefits …
The Department and HS2 Ltd asserted that many of the jobs from the programme will go to those who live locally to construction sites. However, the West Midlands Combined Authority told us that of a high number of the jobs …
HS2 Ltd told us that the nature of the High Speed 2 programme means that the work required for it will be disruptive. HS2 Ltd estimated it had handled 124,000 queries over the past three years and interacted with over …
In May 2021, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published a report that found that HS2 Ltd had misled and failed to communicate promptly and effectively with a family whose home was being purchased to make way for the railway.68 …
HS2 Ltd told us that there had already been significant activity from environmental protests at various sites along the Phase One route. Most notably, protesters tunnelled beneath land owned by HS2 Ltd at Euston. HS2 Ltd told us that this …
Outlines the mitigations for the impacts of HS2 works on local communities, the environment and transport provision as the Phase2a scheme moves into detailed design delivery.
Direction given by the Secretary of State for Transport under Section 47 of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021.
Information about class approval for matters which support development under Schedule 17 of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands-Crewe) Act 2021.
Returned from the Commons The Bill was returned from the Commons with the amendments agreed to. House adjourned at 7.48 pm.
Third Reading 18:48:00 The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Fookes) (Con): My Lords, the Motion for Third Reading will not be debated as no amendments have been tabled. On the Motion that the Bill do now pass, I will call Members to …
Motion to Instruct 13:24:00 Moved by Baroness Vere of Norbiton: That it be an Instruction to the Select Committee to whom the High Speed Rail (West Midlands-Crewe) Bill has been committed that the provisions of Private Business Standing Order 110 …
Membership Motion 16:04:00 Moved by The Senior Deputy Speaker: That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following members be appointed to the Select Committee: Flight, L, Jones of Cheltenham, L, Haselhurst, L, Liddle, L, Porter of Spalding, L, …
First Reading 15:17:00 The Bill was brought from the Commons, read a first time and ordered to be printed.
The documents below relate to project updates for the HS2 Phase One Planning Forum, covering London to the West Midlands.
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham Originated in …
Third Reading 15:07:00 Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Con): My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the High Speed Rail (London - …
The response to the House of Lords Select Committee's Special Report of Session 2016 to 2017.
Committee (2nd Day) 14:00:00 Relevant document : 7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Amendment 17 Moved by 17: After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause— “Restrictions on lorries and road use Within three months of the start of …
Committed to Committee 15:20:00 Moved by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: That the bill be committed to a Grand Committee. Relevant document: 7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Motion agreed.
Motion to Approve 12:03:00 Moved by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: That the following provisions shall apply in respect of the High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill: (1) If a Bill in the same terms as those in which the High …
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham Originated in …
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham
Secretary of State for Transport's response to the 'Second special report' by the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill Select Committee.
How HS2 Ltd will comply with its commitments to Parliament during the passage of the HS2 Phase One Bill.
HS2 Ltd has made changes to the High Speed Rail (London to West Midlands) Bill in relation to linking HS1 and the proposed HS2 line.
This presentation below relates to the lead local authority issues and was used during a meeting of the Planning Forum in March 2015.
Second Reading 10:54:00 Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. First, let me thank my right hon. Friends the Members for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan) and for Uxbridge …
Motion to Agree 11:37:00 Moved by Baroness Kramer: Carry-over of Bill into Session 2014–15 (1) That if a High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill is brought from the House of Commons in Session 2014–15, the Standing Orders of the House …
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham
A Bill to make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Old Oak Common in the London Borough of Ham