How much will HS2 cost after rail project is delayed again?

The HS2 project has come under fire after new estimates revised the costs up by billions, while the opening of the route has been delayed.

The troubled HS2 has raised concerns that Britain is becoming a laughing stock after years of delays and ballooning costs, while passengers wait for rail improvements.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said yesterday that the project, which she inherited from the previous government, would be finished sometime between 2036 and 2039, while the initial estimated opening had been 2033.

Meanwhile, trains from Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street might not be running until 2043.

The estimated HS2 cost

HS2 Ltd, the government-owned company building the railway, estimated in June last year that the project would cost between £54 billion and £66 billion.

But the latest figures have put this between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion in 2025 prices.

The Transport Secretary has previously confirmed that the cancelled northern legs will not be reinstated because ‘we can’t afford [it].’

Speaking in the Commons yesterday, she also levelled questions about scrapping the project altogether, saying that a cancellation would now cost nearly as much as completing it, and leave the UK dotted with abandoned relics.

Last year, she launched an investigation into the project as part of the HS2 ‘reset,’ with HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild and chair Mike Brown tasked to comb through the spending and contracts, which was described as ‘like changing the engine of the aeroplane mid-flight.’

Following the review, the HS2 organisation has been trimmed down, leading to the removal of 300 back-office roles, while supply chain contracts are being reassessed in a bid to cut any hidden costs.

The HS2 route: Where will it stop?

HS2 will run from Euston through Old Oak Common in west London to West Midlands.

New stations will be built in Solihull, near Birmingham International Airport, and at Birmingham Curzon Street.

HS2 was meant to run to Manchester and Leeds, but in 2023 the Conservative government axed the northern leg due to spiralling costs, much to the the dismay of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham who called the move ‘profoundly depressing.’

For years, uncertainty surrounded the extension of HS2 from Old Oak Common to Euston.

But in October 2024, the extension was confirmed in the autumn budget, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves committing money for the Euston tunnelling works.

Plans are also being drawn up for the future of the Euston station complex, suggesting that the high-speed trains would be based in a separate station but with a link to the existing station and national rail services.

When will HS2 open?

The first phase was initially due to launch by the end of 2026, but the estimate was pushed back several times.

Now the new target opening date is between May 2036 and October 2039.

HS2’s Wild said he is confident that ‘these bookends of time and cost are robust.’

When did HS2 construction start?

The HS2 was given the green light in 2012, but construction did not begin until 2020.

HS2 has purchased more than 1,000 homes, farms and land along the route to make way for the tracks.

Residents living next to one of the construction sites told Metro previously that they were surprised at the speed at which the steel frames just yards from their homes were put up.

The National Audit Office warned in 2016 that the project was at risk of delays and exceeding its budget.

But former Prime Minister Boris Johnson recommitted to the project in 2020 following another review.

How much will HS2 tickets cost?

The ticket costs could change by the time the HS2 opens, but they are expected to be pricier than a standard rail fare.

HS2 tickets could cost up to 30% more than standard rail travel, previous estimates show, but there are no official figures yet.

The higher cost is likely to absorb some of the construction costs and factor in faster journey times.

Inflation at the time of opening will also affect prices and whether the HS2 accepts railcards and other discounts.

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