Why we’re building the railway
Freeing up the network
The West Coast Main Line is one of Europe’s busiest railways. Long-distance, local, regional and freight trains all compete for space on the same tracks. There is no room to grow.
In 2025, the rail regulator turned down three applications from operators wanting to run new services on the southern section of the line. There was simply no spare capacity.
HS2 creates the capacity Britain needs
We’re building HS2 to add new, separate tracks for long-distance services. This frees up space on existing routes for more local, regional and freight trains — serving places like Milton Keynes, Northampton and Rugby.
When trains travel at similar speeds on a dedicated line, slower services no longer block the route. This removes the speed conflicts that reduce capacity on the West Coast Main Line, particularly at peak times.
Part of the national network
HS2 will be a central part of Great British Railways — the new national body responsible for trains and track. It is not a separate project. It is an integral part of the network, built to strengthen it.
Once the full railway opens, passengers will benefit from faster and more reliable journeys between London and the West Midlands, with connections to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Growth within an hour’s reach
Capacity is our primary purpose. Speed increases its value.
Connecting London and Birmingham in under an hour — compared with about one hour 30 minutes today — brings major cities closer together. It widens access to jobs, strengthens business connections and supports regeneration around new stations and sites. It also makes rail a more attractive choice than road travel, cutting carbon emissions.
Future – HS2:
London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street
*Based on 360kph max speed and does not take account of proposed changes to operating speed.
Today - fastest train:
London Euston to Birmingham New Street
HS2 works near you
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