Decision due on future of HS2 project

Britain’s government is set to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with construction of HS2, amid warnings the new high-speed rail link could cost more than £100 billion ($130 billion)


HS2 IN NUMBERS
    
400km/h
Maximum speed of HS2 trains (250mph)

555km
Length of new high-speed track (345 miles)

9,000
Number of jobs supported by railway

£56 billion
Expected cost in 2015 ($73 billion)

£88 billion
Estimated cost in 2019 ($114 billion)

£8 billion
Already spent on project ($10.4 billion)


PROJECTED JOURNEY TIMES (in minutes) 	HS2 	Current

London to Birmingham 45 82

London to Manchester Airport 63 144

London to Glasgow 220 270

Birmingham to Newcastle 118 172

Birmingham to Manchester 40 88
 
Birmingham to Leeds 49 118


Phase 1
Due 2026*

Phase 2
Due 2033*

HS2 train services on existing lines

*Expected completion date


Edinburgh
Glasgow
SCOTLAND
Newcastle
Leeds
Manchester 
York
Wigan
Sheffield
Liverpool 
East Midlands Hub
Crewe
ENGLAND
Birmingham
WALES
Old Oak Common
Heathrow Airport
London Euston
50km 30 miles


Sources: BBC, House of Commons Library 
Picture: Twitter 
© GRAPHIC NEWS