…and warns against construction delays

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson has warned that while HS2 “remains within budget and schedule” in delivering Phase 1 (London-Birmingham) and Phase 2a (West Birmingham-Crewe), any construction delay in critical works could affect the whole project.

Overall, the project is supporting 22,000 jobs and has “so far hit major construction milestones, made substantial progress on key procurements, and significant progress to take HS2 further north”, he told

Parliament on March 16.

The main areas of focus remain in the southern section of the route and tunnels into Old Oak Common Station from outer London. These form “the critical path for initial services”, said Stephenson, who added: “Any delays in these sectors could delay the whole project.”

Other key watch areas include Bromford Tunnel, Birmingham Curzon Street station, and the route into Birmingham “where the urban environment generates significant logistical challenges”.