Recommendation 26

In terms of what it has learned from Euston, the Department told us that there are lessons on cost estimation, the treatment of contingency and managing integration on large and complex stations. These are all issues we have seen before on other major programmes, including those overseen by the Department. It also added that over the next two years it will learn about the challenges of pausing works and then restarting them. HS2 Ltd considered that learning from Euston will be most relevant at Manchester Piccadilly 58 Written statement to Parliament, HS2 6 monthly report to Parliament: June 2023, 19 June 2023 59 Transport Committee, Oral evidence, Rail services and infrastructure, 21 June 2023, Q163–166 60 Committee of Public Accounts, Update on the Thameslink Programme, 20th Report of Session 2017–19, 5 February 2018, para 11 61 Committee of Public Accounts, Modernising the Great Western Railway, 44th Report of Session 2016–17, 22 February 2017, para 4 62 Committee of Public Accounts, Crossrail: A progress update, Twenty-Fourth Report of Session 2021–22, 29 October 2021, para 5 63 Qq 105–106 64 Q 116 16 HS2 Euston station, which is part of Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester) of the HS2 programme.65 It set out that, like at Euston, there are interfaces with an existing conventional rail system and with other modes of transport including a tram system.66 Once the bill for Phase 2b goes through Parliament, HS2 Ltd was clear that it and the Department will need to consider what the right set up and organisation with other partners, such as the Manchester transport authority and Network Rail, will be early on at Manchester Piccadilly. It will also include consideration of the ambition for over-site development and regeneration in that area.67