show ad HS2 bosses could make new high speed trains SLOWER and less regular in a bid to cut costs and stick to its £56billion budget * State-backed firm HS2 is considering plans to limit the speed of trains by 30mph * It is also considering reducing the number of services per hour by -- comments HS2 may have to run slower and less frequent trains to slash costs, its chief executive has admitted. The state-backed firm overseeing the high-speed line is mulling over plans to limit the speed of trains by 30mph. -- Last night one campaigner warned that it is ‘quite conceivable’ that some journeys to Birmingham on the high-speed line may be slower than at the moment. HS2 may have to run slower and less frequent trains to slash costs, its chief executive has admitted. The graphic pictured details how much the new HS2 line is costing HS2 may have to run slower and less frequent trains to slash costs, its chief executive has admitted. The graphic pictured details how much the new HS2 line is costing HS2 may have to run slower and less frequent trains to slash costs, its chief executive has admitted. The graphic pictured details how much the new HS2 line is costing The plans were revealed by HS2 Ltd’s chief executive, Mark Thurston, at a meeting with MPs towards the end of last year. Trains were due to hit a maximum speed of 225mph, but he warned that they may have to be -- particular, when going through some tunnels because otherwise extra, and more expensive, engineering work would be needed on the tunnels to cope with the high speed. Tunnels for high-speed trains usually have to be wider than those for slower trains and extra measures have to be taken to deal with the greater air pressure and extra noise. -- Leeds. High-speed trains were planned to reduce the journey time from London to Birmingham from one hour, 21 minutes to 49 minutes, and to cut the journey time from London to Manchester by an hour, from two hours, -- Leadsom to Mr Thurston, reported in The Sunday Telegraph. Mrs Leadsom, the MP for South Northamptonshire, through which the HS2 route would run, wrote: ‘Given the business case for HS2 was first predicated upon speed, then on capacity, then finally on improving connectivity with the North, can I ask how these changes would impact -- money.’ HS2 trains from London Euston will not travel to Birmingham New Street Station, in the heart of the city, or to Birmingham International, near the airport. Instead, they will travel to the newly built HS2 Curzon Street station, about 15 minutes walk from New Street. -- budget HS2 has said that by the time it is completed, passengers will be able to take a new tram to connect to New Street and Birmingham International. But Joe Rukin, campaign manager of Stop HS2, said: ‘It is quite conceivable that if HS2 trains are slowed down some passengers could face longer journeys on HS2 than they do today. HS2’s business case has been based on superfast trains and 18 services an hour. If this does not happen, its entire business case is being destroyed.’ Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has emphasised that HS2 is as much about easing congestion on overcrowded trains as it is about speed. But the Government’s claim that HS2 would provide up to 59,400 seats from London to Birmingham during the three-hour afternoon peak was based on the assumption that the service could operate up to 18 trains -- In September, the National Audit Office revealed that the estimated cost of buying land on the HS2 route between London and Birmingham alone has tripled in six years to £3billion. Responding to Mrs Leadsom, Mr Thurston said it is HS2’s ‘intention... to ensure the project is delivered on time and within budget’. He said he had been responding to questions ‘about what could be done to change -- Share or comment on this article: HS2 high speed trains could be made SLOWER and less regular *