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(BUTTON) Search with google * Make a contribution * Subscribe * (BUTTON) International edition + switch to the UK edition + switch to the US edition + switch to the Australia edition * Search jobs * Dating * Holidays * Digital Archive * Discount Codes * The Guardian app * Video * Podcasts * Pictures * Newsletters * Today's paper * Inside the Guardian * The Observer * Guardian Weekly * Crosswords * Facebook * Twitter * Search jobs * Dating * Holidays * Digital Archive * Discount Codes * UK * UK politics * Education * Media * Society * Law * Scotland * Wales * Northern Ireland (BUTTON) More HS2 This article is more than 11 months old HS2 may run fewer, slower trains to stay on budget and schedule This article is more than 11 months old High-speed rail project’s CEO says service could be reduced by four trains an hour Mattha Busby @matthabusby Sun 13 Jan 2019 13.38 GMT Last modified on Sun 13 Jan 2019 17.35 GMT * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email HS2 excavations under way in St James’s, London. [ ] HS2 excavations under way in London. Photograph: HS2 Ltd HS2 could be forced to run fewer trains and at slower speeds in order to keep the high-speed rail project within budget, the company’s chief executive has said. The government-backed infrastructure development has faced criticism for “misleading MPs” with price estimates that were hundreds of millions of pounds too low, following fears that costs were spiralling out of control. It has now emerged that the leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, questioned the “viability” of the project at a meeting of the all-party parliamentary rail group in November, prompting HS2 to suggest a number of potential cost-cutting measures. In a letter following the meeting, Leadsom told the HS2 Ltd chief executive, Mark Thurston, she was aware he had conceded that “a number of changes to the project may have to be considered in order to keep it within budget and on time”. The economising options discussed included potentially lowering train speeds of up to 225mph (360km/h) by about 30mph, changing from a slab to a ballast track and reducing the number of trains per hour from 18 to 14, according to the MP for South Northamptonshire, an area through which the HS2 route will pass. “My constituents are naturally concerned that changes to the project could undermine the business case, negatively affect the benefit-cost ratio, and reduce the value for taxpayers’ money,” she said. HS2 misled MPs about cost of high-speed rail project - whistleblower Read more Leadsom has sought assurances that the project can be delivered “on time and on budget without impacting the business case or affecting the basis upon which it was agreed by parliament”, adding that Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, has made clear that the timely delivery of the project was “imperative”. On her website, she said the possible changes could “have a substantial impact on the business case for the project”. Responding, Thurston said HS2 was in the process of ensuring the project was “on time and within budget”, stating that Leadsom had correctly referred to a number of options to reduce costs that he set out when asked at the rail group meeting. “However, I was also clear that HS2 Ltd is working to the scope and budget of the project which the government has set, and for which detailed debate in parliament has taken place,” he said in a letter. “If, at some point in the future, we are instructed to consider any of these options, then more detailed work on the effect of such changes would of course take place. “I can assure you that any impact on communities and the findings within the environment statement would be fully investigated and discussed.” It was reported that the changes would result in capacity being reduced by the equivalent of up to 8,800 passengers an hour during peak times. Phase one of the £56bn high-speed rail link will open between London and Birmingham in December 2026 before the railway is extended to Crewe, Manchester and Leeds. It will also serve locations on the existing mainline network, such as Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. A spokesman for HS2 Ltd declined to make a further comment. Topics * HS2 * Rail transport * Transport * Andrea Leadsom * Chris Grayling * Transport policy * Rail industry * news * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email * Share on LinkedIn * Share on Pinterest * Share on WhatsApp * Share on Messenger * Reuse this content more on this story * HS2: parliament misled about true cost, says Labour peer Deputy chair of government review into project claims HS2 chiefs ‘fiddled the figures’ Published: 5 Jan 2020 HS2: parliament misled about true cost, says Labour peer * HS2 costs head north just as its value falls south Nils Pratley The review panel’s advice to plough on despite rising costs is astonishing Published: 12 Nov 2019 Published: 12 Nov 2019 HS2 costs head north just as its value falls south * Co-author of leaked HS2 report demands his name is removed Lord Berkeley at odds with chair of the Oakervee review over costs and benefits Published: 12 Nov 2019 Co-author of leaked HS2 report demands his name is removed * Politicians' anger at threat to HS2 Leeds-Sheffield rail route Reports claim eastern extension of high-speed network could be scrapped to cut costs Published: 5 Oct 2019 Politicians' anger at threat to HS2 Leeds-Sheffield rail route * + Clearance of ancient woodlands for HS2 to be halted until review Published: 16 Sep 2019 Clearance of ancient woodlands for HS2 to be halted until review + HS2 to be delayed by up to five years as cost spirals to up to £88bn Published: 3 Sep 2019 HS2 to be delayed by up to five years as cost spirals to up to £88bn + If ministers want to rebalance the economy, they must scrap HS2 Larry Elliott Published: 3 Sep 2019 Published: 3 Sep 2019 If ministers want to rebalance the economy, they must scrap HS2 + View on HS2 from the Chilterns: ‘A big vanity project like Concorde’ Published: 21 Aug 2019 View on HS2 from the Chilterns: ‘A big vanity project like Concorde’ (BUTTON) More more on this story Most popular * UK * UK politics * Education * Media * Society * Law * Scotland * Wales * Northern Ireland * News * Opinion * Sport * Culture * Lifestyle IFRAME: /email/form/footer/today-uk + Contact us + Complaints & corrections + SecureDrop + Work for us + Privacy policy + Cookie policy + Terms & conditions + Help + All topics + All writers + Digital newspaper archive + Facebook + Twitter + Advertise with us + Search UK jobs + Dating + Discount Codes Support The Guardian Available for everyone, funded by readers Contribute Subscribe Back to top © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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