HS2 is up to three years behind schedule, train line’s boss admits to MPs ...Middle East

Mark Wild took over as chief executive of the high-speed railway project in December and has been tasked by the Labour government with carrying out a “reset”.

He later added that the civil engineering phase – preparing for the railway by building tunnels, bridges and cuttings – is “at least two to three years behind”.

“These contracts are going to be considerably over budget,” he admitted. “They will be anywhere between a 50 and 100 per cent overspend.”

According to a report in RAIL magazine, the final cost is likely to go beyond £100bn (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Mr Wild said the reason the project is so far behind is because contractors were given “notice to proceed” when designs for the railway, which will have trains reaching speeds of 225mph, were not finalised.

The decision to proceed in 2020 meant that construction firms were unable to “price the risk” for how much it would cost to build it – instead, the Government accepted all the risk.

He also highlighted that despite the Government having passed a hybrid bill to give legal powers for the railway, HS2 Ltd has still had to obtain more than 7,000 consents.

square RAIL Exclusive

HS2 warns firms across 140-mile route after supplier sacked over ‘tax fraud’ claims

Read More

Asked by MPs if he believes this will be possible, he said the risk problem has now “greatly reduced” because the civil engineering phase is 60 per cent complete and the design of the railway is 84 per cent complete.

He argued these businesses “understand they are part of a much bigger game” and want to continue to work for the Government on the projects such as the Sizewell C nuclear plant and the National Grid upgrades.

Mr Wild says he will be unable to give a final cost on building Phase One of HS2 between London and Birmingham until his ‘reset’ is complete at the end of this year.

According to a report in RAIL magazine, the final cost is likely to go beyond £100bn.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( HS2 is up to three years behind schedule, train line’s boss admits to MPs )

Also on site :

• Japan starts deploying Osprey fleet at a new base to beef up southwestern defense
• South Africa seeks US trade deal after Trump’s 30% citrus tariff
• Josh O’Connor Goes Full Cowboy in ‘Rebuilding’ as Director Max Walker-Silverman Takes on Life After the Fires: ‘Loss Often Comes With Love’