News > UK > Home News

HS2: Plans revived to connect London terminus of High Speed Two with Channel
Tunnel Rail Link

   Under present plans, HS2 would leave from Euston and would not be
   linked to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which starts at King’s Cross St
   Pancras
--
     *

   The HS2 terminus at Euston is about half a mile from HS1 at St Pancras
   ( Getty )

   Plans to build an underground travelator to connect the London terminus
   of High Speed Two (HS2) with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link have been
   revived by the team behind the proposed £42.6bn HS2 railway.

   Under present plans, HS2 would leave from Euston and would not be
   linked to HS1, better known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, which
   starts less than a mile away at King’s Cross St Pancras. The Government
   removed a direct, £700m HS1-HS2 single-track rail link last year,
   concerned that it would cause too much disruption.

   But HS2 Ltd and Network Rail are looking at several options, including
   a travelator and splitting the line before it reaches Euston. This
   would mean trains could connect directly to HS1, but this time on a
   twin track that would allow trains to go up and down the link at the
   same time.
--

   The result would be a seamless service from Manchester or Leeds, the
   two cities where the second, Y-shaped phase of HS2 will terminate when
   it is completed in the early 2030s. HS2 Ltd sources say this could be
   part of a “suite” of connections, which could also include a walkway
   between Euston and St Pancras.
--
     * Network Rail may sell off telecoms rights
     * Train stations could be sold off in plan to split Network Rail
     * 'No business case' for taking HS2 to Scotland
     * Labour to curb soaring costs of HS2 rail link
     * What do local people really think of the proposed HS2 project?

   HS2 has been dogged by criticism of its hefty price-tag, which had to
   be increased by £10bn two years ago after design and construction costs
   had become clearer. HS2 Ltd has been more confident in its ability to
   build the railway within its revised budget since Sir David Higgins,
   who led the construction of the London 2012 Olympic Park, became
--

   A leading rail consultant said he was concerned that transport
   officials had become “too emboldened” about HS2’s budget and were
   trying to “gold-plate” the railway. But other rail insiders said the
   Treasury was successfully applying pressure on HS2 Ltd to cut costs.

   HS2 Ltd declined to comment.

Independent news email