Britain’s new high-speed railway
What is HS2
Britain’s new high-speed railway
High Speed Two (HS2) cuts travel time between Britain’s two biggest cities to under an hour, supporting the government’s mission for growth, connecting businesses with new opportunities.
Modern electric trains travelling at speeds up to 225mph will provide zero-carbon journeys. HS2 uses the latest technology to provide faster, reliable, frequent services – putting passengers first.
Here’s what this new high-speed railway means for passengers and Britain’s economy.
What HS2 means for passengers
42minutes
Future – HS2:
Old Oak Common, west London to Birmingham
77minutes
Today - fastest train:
London Euston to Birmingham
When HS2 opens, trains will run between Old Oak Common station in west London and Birmingham. Next, we’ll complete the final section to London Euston.
From Old Oak Common, you can connect to the Elizabeth line (London’s newest railway) to reach central London
HS2’s opening services will run between Old Oak Common in west London and Birmingham while we complete the line to Euston. During this time, passengers can connect to the Elizabeth line at Old Oak Common for travel to central London.
Construction progress
HS2 is being built to the highest standards, using advanced engineering to protect the environment, cut carbon emissions and support British industry.
The project involves building major structures including tunnels, embankments, cuttings, bridges and viaducts across 140 miles of new high-speed line.
Progress to date:
- More than 80% of tunnelling complete.
- Work started on two-thirds of HS2’s viaducts and over half of bridges.
- Contracts awarded for rail systems like track, signalling and power supplies.
- Modern stations under development in London, Birmingham and Solihull.
This progress means we’re building the foundations for faster journeys and economic growth.
Programme reset and next steps
We’re making sure HS2 provides the best value for Britain by carrying out a full review of the programme for the government.
Our CEO Mark Wild is resetting HS2’s cost and schedule. He successfully led Crossrail’s recovery in the wake of major challenges. This led to the successful opening of the Elizabeth line – now the busiest in the UK.
What happens next
While we review the programme to complete HS2, we’re focusing on essential work that safely accelerates construction while achieving the benefits from the railway.
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