HS2 in ‘very serious situation’, boss says
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HS2 is in a “very serious situation” and needs a “fundamental reset”, the new boss of the company building the high-speed railway has warned. Mark Wild, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, said he is committed to ensuring the railway opens “safely and efficiently”.
Earlier this month, HS2 Ltd estimated the cost of building the railway would be between £54 and £66 billion in 2019 prices – between £67 and £83 billion in current prices. I am committed to delivering this reset over the coming year. But appearing before the Commons Public Accounts Committee, the Department for Transport’s top civil servant Dame Bernadette Kelly said these figures were not “reliable” and an agreed estimate was unlikely to be produced until “well into 2025”.
Mr Wild, who joined HS2 Ltd at the start of December, said in a statement on Monday: “New railways provide better journeys and they boost economic growth by fuelling investment in communities and businesses. “The prize is clear. However, the programme is in a very serious situation that requires a fundamental reset to enable it to be delivered to the lowest feasible cost.
“I am committed to delivering this reset over the coming year to ensure the railway can be brought into service safely and efficiently.”. HS2 Ltd published an update outlining the progress in building the 140-mile line between London and the West Midlands.
