HS2 Explores Slower Speeds to Slash Costs and Accelerate Launch
HS2 considers lowering train speeds to 186mph to save billions and bring the high-speed rail project online earlier in the 2030s, as ministers push to rein in the ballooning budget.
In a move to address the spiraling costs and delays surrounding the High Speed Two (HS2) rail project, the UK government has directed the company to explore the possibility of reducing train speeds to save money and expedite the launch. HS2 Ltd, the organization overseeing the project, will now assess whether limiting the top speed from 224mph (360km/h) to 186mph (300km/h) could result in significant cost savings – potentially billions of pounds – and help bring the railway into operation earlier in the 2030s.
The decision to consider slower train speeds comes as ministers continue to grapple with the ever-increasing budget and timeline for the HS2 project. The project, initially estimated to cost £55.7 billion, has seen its price tag balloon to over £100 billion, leading to growing concerns about its viability and calls for a reevaluation of the project's scope and priorities.
Source: The Guardian
