About us
High Speed Two is the new railway that will be the backbone of Britain’s transport network. Learn more about the project and HS2 Ltd, the company building it.
HS2 Ltd Head office, Two Snowhill, Birmingham.
The benefits for the country
By helping to bridge the north-south divide it will build a country that works together. The new railway will free up space on congested rail lines. This will relieve overcrowding and improve reliability for millions of people using Britain’s railways.
It will help deliver a more productive economy, better able to compete on the global stage. By making it faster and easier to travel for work and leisure, HS2 will increase trade, boost tourism and regenerate towns and cities. Hundreds and thousands of jobs will be supported by Local Authorities’ development plans to capitalise on HS2.
The route
- 345 miles of new high-speed track will connect the city centres of London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds.
- HS2 trains will cross over onto the existing railway to also serve further towns and cities in the north of England and Scotland.
Explore the route and stations to be served.
The train service
- HS2 is expected to carry over 300,000 passengers a day – around 100 million a year, when fully operational.
- Up to 48 HS2 trains will run on the rail network every hour.
- Over 25 stations will be served directly.
- Intercity journey times will be cut. For example, the journey between London and Manchester will be cut in half to just over an hour.
Find out how HS2 will improve journeys.
Key dates
Construction is starting on Phase One which will link London and Birmingham by 2026. Phase Two will run from the West Midlands to Manchester in the west and Leeds in the east completing the network by 2033.
View timelines for the phases.
Construction and jobs
HS2 is Europe’s largest infrastructure project supporting 25,000 jobs during construction, including 2,000 apprenticeships. It will set new standards for engineering innovation, safety, and sustainability.
HS2 Ltd
High Speed Two (HS2) Limited is the company responsible for developing and promoting the UK’s new high speed rail network. It is funded by grant-in-aid from the government.
HS2 Ltd is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Transport.
Who we are
HS2 Ltd began operations in January 2009. We currently employ around 1,500 people, with the majority of staff working at our headquarters in Birmingham.
Our vision is for HS2 to be a catalyst for growth across Britain. HS2 will be the backbone of Britain’s rail network. It will better connect the country’s major cities and economic hubs. It will help deliver a stronger, more balanced economy better able to compete on the global stage. It will open up local and regional markets. It will attract investment and improve job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people across the whole country.
As a high-performing, innovative organisation, we will deliver value for money. We will do this by applying the best in worldwide design and construction techniques. We will keep a tight grip on costs. We are determined to deliver HS2 on time and on budget. We will achieve new standards in infrastructure delivery, operational resilience and passenger experience.
HS2 Ltd will set the standard for the delivery of transport systems and infrastructure by:
- engaging with all our stakeholders fairly and meaningfully;
- delivering value through effective management of the design and build programme; and
- building and operating a safe, sustainable and reliable system to provide exceptional levels of service to passengers.
Our responsibilities
We are responsible for ensuring that the HS2 rail network is:
- designed, built and operates to the highest safety standards
- built and operates sustainably, responsibly and respectfully of the communities, wildlife and places it affects
- reliable, seamless and easy to use for all passengers and well-integrated with existing transport systems
We also work with our suppliers to build a skilled workforce that supports economic growth across the UK.
Corporate information
Our corporate plan
HS2’s corporate plan includes a review of performance in financial year 2017/18 and sets out key objectives and a high-level delivery plan for the three years to 2021. The plan also outlines: our vision, mission and values. It provides performance measures too.
Download the HS2 corporate plan.
Download the HS2 organisational chart.
Governance
Find out about how HS2 Ltd is governed.
Corporate reports
Corporate reports, such as board reports and chairman’s reports, can be found on the HS2 section of GOV.UK. This is in line with government policy on publishing corporate information.
Transparency data
Transparency data, such as workforce management information, spending and forum minutes, can be found on GOV.UK. This is in line with government policy on publishing transparency data.
