Incomplete designs, poor delivery and bad management send bill for HS2 rocketing to more than £100bn and full opening of line to 17 years away

By Daniel Gayne2026-05-19T15:45:00

Source: HS2 Ltd

Route between Birmingham and London Euston not expected to be ready until 2043

HS2 is now expected to cost up to £103bn and may not be fully complete until 2043.

The bombshell news was delivered this afternoon by transport secretary Heidi Alexander who admitted the minimum cost of the scheme will be at least £87.7bn. In 2011, the estimated cost of the scheme was put at £32bn, around £49bn today.

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