The Timeline
High Speed Two (HS2) is the new high speed railway we are building that will be the backbone of the national rail network. It will link London and Birmingham to Manchester, the East Midlands and Leeds.
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
Phase 1
Timeline information for HS2 Phase One of the project between London and the West Midlands.
Scroll to
discover more
- Beginning of 2009
HS2 Ltd formed
![]()
- Beginning of 2013
Government confirms route
![]()
- Late 2016
Enabling works contract awarded
Discover why ground investigations are an important part of enabling works. - Beginning of 2017
Royal Assent granted by Parliament
- Mid 2017
Main civils design work commences
![]()
- Beginning of 2019
Main civils construction works commence
![Illustration of construction items]()
- Early 2024
Delivery of first trains for infrastructure testing
![]()
- Late 2026
First passengers travel on HS2 services
![]()
