The opening of a section of the UK’s HS2 rail line
will be delayed by a further two years, it was revealed
yesterday.
The country’s secretary of state for transport, Mark Harper,
said the government will “rephase construction” of Phase 2a between Birmingham
and Crewe due to “significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs”.
It means the section to Crewe may not open until 2036 and to
Manchester not until 2043. HS2 services are due to commence between West London
and Birmingham between 2029 and 2033 and to extend to London’s Euston station by
2035 according to current schedules.
Harper said more than £20 billion has already been spent on
delivering Phase 1 between London and the West Midlands as it prioritises initial
services between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street stations.
“HS2 continues to represent a very significant
investment into our national infrastructure, levelling up communities right
across our country, providing a net-zero alternative to car travel and domestic
flights, and training a skilled workforce for the UK's
future construction industry,” said Harper.
The Business Travel Association’s chief executive Clive
Wratten said the delay to Phase 2a is a “sure-fire detonation to the UK’s
levelling up agenda”.
Wratten continued: “Reliable transport networks are not a
luxury but a necessity. People outside London are being forced into their cars
by inadequate rail infrastructure. HS2 was meant to be part of the solution to
modernise travel networks. This delay not only puts this in peril but also
bears serious consequences for the UK’s economic recovery post-pandemic.”
The completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2a will
reduce travel times between London and Crewe from the current fastest journey
time of 1h 30mins to 56mins.
Source: HS2.org.uk