HS2, or High Speed 2, is a high-speed railway line and network of passenger train services in England. It is the largest infrastructure project in Europe and the most important economic and social regeneration project in decades. The project is designed to help modernize the rail network, slash travel times, and help Britain catch up with other European nations that operate well-connected high-speed rail networks. The new high-speed line will run between the North West and the South East, stopping at Manchester, Birmingham, and London with trains continuing on the existing network to Scotland and elsewhere. In total, over 250 miles of new high-speed line is planned across the country, including:
- HS2 Phase One (linking London, Birmingham, and the West Midlands)
- HS2 Phase 2a (extending the line to Crewe)
- HS2 Phase 2b (completing the line to Manchester)
- HS2 East (linking the West and East Midlands with services to Sheffield and Leeds)
- Northern Powerhouse Rail (with a high-speed link between Warrington and Yorkshire that relies on HS2 Phase 2b infrastructure)
The first HS2 services will run between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common in London between 2029 and 2033 and expand as new sections of the network are built. The project has been controversial due to its high cost and environmental impact, and the Manchester leg of HS2 has been recently axed.
