Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 43
43
Phase 2 cancellation limits HS2 capacity benefits to London-Birmingham route
Conclusion
The HS2 programme was originally intended to improve capacity on the West Coast Main Line. However, with the cancellation of Phase 2, the revised programme will only address capacity between London and Birmingham. The Department is exploring options to run longer HS2 trains north of Birmingham, but this would require additional works at existing stations.73 Further options for addressing capacity issues include managing demand for rail services or investing in infrastructure such as additional tracks and longer platforms.74
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 May 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗