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Britain is building one of the world’s most expensive railways
The HS2 high-speed rail line was supposed to re-energize the UK. Instead, controversy, astronomical costs and downsizing have left it struggling for support.
Speaking at an industry conference in 2022, Ricardo Ferreras, director of Spanish construction giant Ferrovial — one of many companies involved in HS2 — blamed the process of obtaining permits and conducting environmental studies for the increased cost of building high-speed railways in the UK. While the new Labour government elected in July 2024 has made positive noises about investing in infrastructure to stimulate economic growth and possibly completing the tunnels under London to reach the planned terminus at Euston, it has so far dismissed calls for the Birmingham-Crewe section of Phase 2 to be reinstated. By creating fast new rail links between cities such as Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester and freeing up capacity on existing railways for better local services and more freight, promoters hoped that HS2 would be the spark to ignite much-needed growth outside London.
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