Union calls for end to HS2 ‘tinkering’ ahead of fresh report

A report due out this week is expected to say HS2’s focus on becoming the fastest high-speed railway in the world has contributed to spiralling costs and project delays.

Former national security advisor Sir Stephen Lovegrove has been tasked with considering the project’s impact on the civil service and public sector, and is expected to release his findings later this week, according to reports from the Press Association.

The paper is expected to say the project’s original “gold plated” specification resulted in a “bespoke and highly engineered design”, with further delays expected – prompting union bosses to urge the government to push ahead with a revised delivery target of 2033.

• READ MORE: Wild: HS2 reset due ‘by the end of the year‘

Earlier this year, transport secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the government was considering reducing the speed of the service from its original specification of around 360kph(223mph) to fall more in line with existing European high-speed rail services.

A top speed of around 250kph(155mph) is the minimum required for a service to be considered a high-speed railway.

She said the move could save a sum in the “low billions” from the project’s final costing, with more than £40bn already spent on the scheme.

A long-awaited “reset” process, which will provide an estimate of final costs and a likely delivery date, is expected to be finalised by the end of 2026.

General secretary of the TSSA union which represents staff directly employed by HS2, Maryam Eslamdoust, said the government should not use the report as a smokescreen for further delays.

“To do so would simply further undermine a project which is vital not only to the rail industry but the growth of the British economy at local, regional and national levels,” she said.

“HS2 must be delivered as currently planned, with trains running by 2033, at full speed. Anything else will leave Britain in the slow lane when it comes to high-speed rail links, not just in comparison with other countries in Europe but also China.

“What we need to see now is full, unequivocal backing for HS2 from ministers, no more tinkering and delay.”