Mark Wild, Chief Executive of HS2, has confirmed that the group will miss its planned goal of getting trains running between Birmingham and London between 2029 and 2033.
In an update published on Monday (29 December),the group noted that HS2 is now at peak production, and all 23 miles of deep-bore tunnels have now been excavated on the opening section of the railway between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street.
Figures show 70% of the project’s vast earthworks programme has now been delivered and almost 300,000 tonnes of steel has been used – 69% of that required for the railway.
HS2 is now focused on completing the complex civil engineering programme across the 140-mile route, ahead of the next vital stage when the track, signalling and communications systems that form the basis of the operational railway are installed.
“I made a commitment to the Transport Secretary that I would address the failures of the past and get HS2 on track. It’s clear that we can only do so with a fundamental reset. Over the last year we’ve been through the programme with a fine tooth comb and we’re now very close to establishing a clear path forward,” Wild said.
“However, we’ve not stood still. We had to deliver a safe and productive year while HS2 was reset and I want to thank the 34,000 people working on the project every day for their tremendous hard work.
“The solid progress they’ve made in the last year gives us strong foundations to build upon. We’ve shown what can be done and I expect that to continue throughout 2026 and beyond as we deliver HS2 as safely and efficiently as possible and for the lowest reasonable cost.”
Following his initial stocktake at the start of the year, Wild provided advice to the Transport Secretary confirming that the railway’s 2029/2033 opening schedule could not be achieved. HS2 has since been finalising a new range of credible cost and schedule estimates.
These draw on the same methodology Wild used when he reset Crossrail – paving the way for the successful opening of the Elizabeth Line. The work will inform the development of a new programme baseline – the standard against which HS2 Ltd’s future performance will be measured, the group said.
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