The UK government has announced that work on a major element of the high-speed rail network known as HS2 will be significantly delayed, due to high costs. Transport secretary Mark Harper said the government would “rephase construction by two years” on HS2 Phase 2a – primarily the line between Birmingham and Crewe – in the face of “significant inflationary pressure”. There is also a suggestion that the completion of work on London’s Euston station could be delayed, as alternative and more affordable design options are examined. The station is currently scheduled to be operational by 2035. In 2015 it was projected that HS2 would cost £56 billion (US$68.4 billion) – now it is estimated that the final cost will be around £100 billion (US$122 billion).
Work on some of HS2 has been postponed