UK Eyes HS2 Speed Cut to 300-320 km/h for Cost Savings

The UK government is exploring options to reduce the top speed of High Speed 2 trains from 360 kilometers per hour to between 300 and 320 km/h, a move aimed at saving billions of pounds and accelerating the project's completion. The proposed change, announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, would align HS2 with established high-speed networks like the Channel Tunnel's HS1 line and France's TGV, while having minimal effect on overall journey times between London and Birmingham.

HS2, launched in 2009 to boost rail capacity and connect major cities, was designed to operate at speeds exceeding any current conventional passenger service worldwide. However, officials at the Department for Transport noted that achieving 360 km/h would require unique track engineering not found elsewhere, complicating safety testing and potentially delaying the line's opening. Trains would either need to await full track completion for domestic tests or be shipped abroad, adding to expenses and timelines. Alexander has instructed HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild to assess the impacts, with a report due before Parliament's summer recess in July.

Wild, appointed in December 2024 following years...