What is HS2

HS2 is Britain’s new high-speed railway connecting London and Birmingham. It is the first new intercity railway to be built north of London in more than a century.  Our British-built bullet trains will create capacity, or space, on the congested network, providing faster, zero carbon journeys between our two largest cities. Services will continue to Manchester, the North West and Scotland using the conventional railway network, cutting journey times.

HS2 will reduce journey times between central London and Birmingham by 40 per cent, to just 49 minutes.

Modern, eco-friendly flagship stations at Curzon Street, Interchange, Old Oak Common and Euston will act as transport hubs, putting hundreds of destinations in easy reach for travellers – and nearly halve the journey times between Birmingham and London.

The high-speed railway will be a strategic asset for the nation, built to last for generations. By better connecting our biggest economic centres and kickstarting plans for inner-city regeneration, HS2 will open up opportunities to create thousands of new jobs and homes as well as driving huge economic growth.

HS2’s construction is delivering significant economic benefits now, years before the first trains run. Multi-billion-pound regeneration plans are in place for the land surrounding HS2’s new stations. Developments will feature thousands of new homes and jobs as well as new offices, public spaces and leisure facilities.

The investment HS2 has attracted to the West Midlands is projected to add £10 billion to the regional economy over the next 10 years, creating 41,000 additional homes and 30,000 new jobs.

Regeneration in west London at Old Oak Common is set to provide 25,000 new homes and 60,000 jobs.

The construction of HS2 will show the world the best of British skills, innovation and ambition. Construction of the line is well underway, with over 31,000 jobs supported by the project and more than 3,300 UK-based businesses helping to build it.

Comprising 140-miles of track, four new stations, two depots, 32 miles of tunnel and 179 bridges, HS2 will leave a legacy of environmentally responsible travel, economic regeneration and technological innovation for generations to come.

We have awarded our railway systems contracts, that will deliver the high-speed rail project’s state-of-the-art track, signalling, communications, and other systems. It marks the beginning of a new stage for the project, that will see almost 140 miles of tunnels, bridges and earthworks between London and the West Midlands transformed into an operational railway.

HS2’s British-built bullet trains will run at speeds of up to 225mph and ensure an easy, comfortable and reliable passenger experience, providing full mobile network and wifi coverage across the length of the route and inside all 32 miles of tunnels.