The HS2 debacle is a parable of broken Britain
The HS2 high-speed rail project in the UK has faced significant delays and cost overruns, illustrating broader issues within the British state. Originally projected to cost £32.7 billion and be completed by 2026, it is now expected to take until the 2040s and cost up to £102.7 billion. This situation reflects a pattern of inefficiency in public infrastructure projects across the country.
- ▪HS2 was initially proposed in 2009 and confirmed in 2012, with a projected cost of £32.7 billion.
- ▪The project is now expected to cost up to £102.7 billion and not be completed until the 2040s.
- ▪The scope of HS2 has been significantly reduced, with key sections to Leeds and Manchester being scrapped.
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The HS2 debacle is a parable of broken Britain Red tape and institutional inertia have put the UK on the wrong track. i Picture by: Getty dataLayer.push({ event: 'author', author: "Max Klinger" }) Max Klinger 23rd May 2026 i Picture by: Getty Share Topics UK Want unlimited, ad-free access? Become a spiked supporter. The levels of waste, incompetence and dysfunction inside parts of the modern British state are hard to fathom at times. It consumes extraordinary amounts of money, yet increasingly struggles to perform even its most essential tasks competently. Nothing better illustrates this state failure than HS2, Britain’s high-speed rail project linking London to Birmingham.
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