HS2: More hurdles to jump before controversial project becomes reality

摘要

The HS2 Bill is nearing completion as I write, with Royal Assent probably in February. What then? The HS2 team is clearly gearing up to start work on sites along the route of Phase 1, no doubt believing that Parliament and therefore the whole country thinks that they have done a fine job and should now start the real work, on and under the ground. We certainly need the capacity that it will provide on a very congested corridor, but there are one or two more hurdles to jump over before this becomes a reality. The first is that, following chief executive Simon Kirby's departure in the autumn to join Rolls-Royce, several other senior managers are following him out of the door.