Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Acknowledged
No final decisions made on HS2 operational train services for Phase 1.
Conclusion
The Department’s November 2023 update to Parliament stated that “No decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 is operational.”33 The Department told us it had developed “an outline train specification that sets out an assumed service”, but before bringing it into service there would need to be proper consultation nearer the time. Final decisions would need to take account of the economic conditions and the demand at the time. It explained that some assumptions are more certain, for example between Birmingham and London, but it needed to work out how to optimise services beyond that, across HS2 and Network Rail, to optimise the whole corridor. The Department said it would continue to look at optimising the benefits of Phase 1 and what the optimal train service to run is, but final decisions would be made much closer to opening.34
Government Response Summary
The Department restates its position that no decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 is operational and that final decisions will take account of economic conditions and demand at the time.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Department’s November 2023 update to Parliament stated that “No decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 is operational.”33 The Department told us it had developed “an outline train specification that sets out an assumed service”, but before bringing it into service there would need to be proper consultation nearer the time. Final decisions would need to take account of the economic conditions and the demand at the time. It explained that some assumptions are more