The failure of the HS2 project is a damning indictment of this country’s inability to deliver meaningful infrastructure to spec, on time and on budget. While neighbouring countries in Western Europe have been building high speed rail at pace, HS2 has been nothing short of an abject failure.

The need for HS2 for the North of England is still there. Instead, successive governments have cut the project back to the point where the objective of HS2 has been betrayed. Ending the line at Birmingham is not going to spread economic growth across the country. It is a familiar tale of what could have been for the North. The region and its people have once again been abandoned. Rail projects are critical to reinvigorating regional economies.

Lessons need to be learned from the HS2 debacle with the project set to cost more than £100bn and the current Transport Secretary warning that cancelling it could cost almost as much as it would to finish it. It is absurd that the first trains between Birmingham and London are expected between 2036 and 2039, and an even longer wait for services to travel north of Birmingham.

HS2 trains will run slower than planned to save money. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the maximum speed of services will be 199mph, down from the original design of 224mph. The project wasn’t about just faster trains but capacity.

HS2’s Lawley Middleway Bridge being placed over Birmingham’s main ring road. PIC: Phil Barnett/PA Wire

placeholder image — HS2’s Lawley Middleway Bridge being placed over Birmingham’s main ring road. PIC: Phil Barnett/PA Wire

This whole debacle is illustrative of why so many people are disillusioned with policymakers.

Politically, it creates a headache for the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with long-time advocate for HS2, Andy Burnham looking to mount a challenge for the leadership.