Fact Check: "HS2 will not open by 2033 due to ongoing delays and cost hikes."
What We Know
The High-Speed 2 (HS2) rail project in the UK has faced significant delays and cost overruns since its inception. Originally expected to open by 2026 at a cost of £33 billion, the project's timeline and budget have both been drastically revised. As of June 2025, the UK government confirmed that HS2 will not meet its target opening date of 2033, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stating that there is "no route" to delivering the line on schedule and within budget (BBC, Guardian). The estimated costs have ballooned to over £100 billion, with a £37 billion increase reported since the project was approved in 2012 (Reuters, Daily Mail).
The project has been described as an "appalling mess," with Alexander citing a "litany of failure" that has led to missed deadlines and escalating costs. The interim report by Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2, indicated that construction began prematurely without stable designs, contributing to the current issues (BBC, Guardian). Furthermore, the project has been scaled back, with significant portions of the original plan, such as the Birmingham to Manchester route, being scrapped (BBC, Guardian).
Analysis
The claim that HS2 will not open by 2033 is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The BBC and The Guardian both report on the government's acknowledgment of the project's delays and the lack of a new completion date (BBC, Guardian). The statements from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and HS2's chief executive Mark Wild are particularly significant, as they come from high-ranking officials directly involved in the project. Their assessments highlight systemic issues within HS2 Ltd, including poor management and external factors like the pandemic and geopolitical events that have exacerbated the situation (BBC, Guardian).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of reporting on infrastructure projects and government affairs. The information provided is consistent across various outlets, reinforcing the credibility of the claims regarding HS2's delays and cost overruns.
However, it is important to note that while external factors have played a role, the internal mismanagement and lack of timely interventions have been identified as primary contributors to the project's failures (BBC, Guardian). This suggests that the issues are not solely due to unforeseen circumstances but also stem from poor planning and execution.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The claim that HS2 will not open by 2033 due to ongoing delays and cost hikes is supported by credible evidence from multiple reliable sources. The UK government has officially confirmed that the project will not meet its original timeline, and significant cost increases have been documented. The combination of internal mismanagement and external challenges has led to this conclusion.
