Britain’s new high-speed railway
What is HS2
Britain’s new high-speed railway
HS2 is Britain’s new high-speed railway. It’s the most significant addition to the rail network in over a century and lays the foundations for the future of our railways.
It will provide more reliable and faster journeys while relieving pressure on the congested southern end of the West Coast Main Line.
What HS2 means for passengers
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 and the link to the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre, Staffordshire.
From Old Oak Common, you can connect to the Elizabeth line (London’s newest railway) to reach 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
- We’re in peak civil construction, building the major structures such as tunnels, stations, viaducts, 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
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.
Read about HS2’s review of the programme and construction progress
Work in your area
Subscribe to our regular updates about the project, including notifications of our upcoming works, how it’s being constructed and what we’re doing to make it less disruptive.