In a recent interview, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh revealed that the HS2 railway line is set to be extended to London Euston. “It would make absolutely no sense to have the high-speed route terminate at Old Oak Common in west London,” she said, addressing concerns about the current plan that would require passengers to switch trains when heading to central London.
Haigh’s comments come in the wake of the former Conservative government’s suspension of the Euston station expansion due to rising costs. During her appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live, she mentioned that a final decision regarding HS2’s endpoint is expected to be made soon, likely around the time of the Budget announcement on October 30.
Initially conceived to create high-speed rail links between London and major urban centers in the Midlands and Northern England, the HS2 project has encountered numerous challenges. Rising costs and the potential impact on local communities have stalled progress. Last October, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested that extending HS2 from Old Oak Common to Euston—offering easier access to central London—would hinge on private investment and could save taxpayers an estimated £6.5 billion.
Haigh stressed that Euston has always been a crucial part of HS2’s future plans, even amid the shifting strategies of the previous government. However, questions remain about how the current Labour government plans to finance the extension to Euston. The Department for Transport has not yet provided further comments on this issue.
Furthermore, a report released in February by the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee expressed doubt about the government’s ability to secure private investment quickly and at the necessary scale to extend HS2 to Euston successfully. It’s important to note that HS2 was originally a commitment of the Labour party, first announced in 2009, with the latest government estimates placing the total cost for the Birmingham to London segment between £45 billion and £54 billion.
Looking ahead, attention is now turning to the construction work needed at Euston. The segment of HS2 known as the Euston Approaches, which will link the railway to Euston Station, is currently on hold. Large-scale excavation needed for the Euston Approaches tunnels has been paused, including the construction of a concrete box designed to cover the railway line as it enters and exits the tunnels. Other essential projects, such as tunneling and expanding the railway to form the Euston Throat—a critical feature for accommodating HS2—are also pending.
