With the governments new aims for HS2 being amended to run as many services as quickly and effectively as possible, while ensuring the construction costs are kept as low as possible, HS2 Ltd have been asked by The Transport Treasury, to explore areas where costs can be saved that will reduce delays to the lines construction, ease the financial burden on the tax payer and speed up completion of the project.

In recent years, the project has seen cases of mismanagement, which have sent construction costs soaring, adding delays to the project.

CEO of HS2 Ltd, Mark Wild, will investigate areas where costs can be saved before compiling a report to be submitted to the Transport Treasury during the summer.

Under Mark Wild’s tenure, the delivery of HS2 has reached peak construction. Five out of nine 400-metre sections for the Greatworth tunnel, the longest green tunnel, have been completed. Excavation of the Bromford tunnel has been completed, with further work going on. The last of the four TBMs finished Northolt Tunnels three months earlier than planned. The building of the second TBM at Old Oak Common, which began its journey tunnelling towards Euston this week, and moving the heaviest pre-fabricated box structure in Europe at 14,5000 tons under the A46.

“I made a commitment to the Transport Secretary that I would regain control of HS2 and bring an end to the project’s cost increases and delays.

With performance moving in the right direction, driven by the hard work of 30,000 people on the ground, we are rightly exploring options to create further efficiencies.

Speed has never been the primary objective. This railway will deliver better journeys, more capacity on the network, and economic growth – all of which are vital to the country’s future prosperity”

Mark Wild, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd

The original plans for the line were set to have the fastest conventional trains in the world operating at 360km/h (223.6 mph) between London and Birmingham by the time of the project’s competition.

It seems this was a bit ambitious, as there are no facilities in the world to test trains running at such speeds. In order to achieve 360km/h, the whole line would have had to be built before the testing of the trains could begin, adding further delays to the project before being signed off for public use.

It seems likely the line will now use trains set to run at 320km/h, the same speed as the Eurostar’s and French TGV systems. With trains already being tried, tested and in front-line service at this speed, this would be one area where costs could be saved, and project delivery time could be cut.

“This government is determined to deliver HS2 as effectively and efficiently as possible. In doing so, I will look at every opportunity to claw back construction time, save taxpayers money and ensure the project delivers for the country.

I share the public’s anger about the waste and mess of the past, which is why this government is pulling HS2 out of its sclerosis and setting it on a more sensible course. We’re getting a grip, controlling costs, and getting on with delivering the transport infrastructure this country needs”.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander