HS2 is the wildest white elephant in British history. Please put it out of its misery | Simon Jenkins
The HS2 railway project has been criticized as a significant waste of resources, with costs now projected to reach £102.7 billion and a completion date pushed to 2039. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the project as a 'massively over-specced folly' and expressed frustration over its management. Critics argue that the funds could be better spent on improving urban transit and addressing pressing infrastructure needs.
- ▪The HS2 project is now expected to cost up to £102.7 billion and may not be operational until 2039.
- ▪Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander referred to the original design as a 'massively over-specced folly'.
- ▪Critics believe the project is a vanity initiative that should be scrapped in favor of improving local rail services.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — Politics |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/21/hs2-white-elephant-british-history-sunk-cost-fallacy |
| Publication time | Thu, 21 May 2026 16:59:53 GMT |
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Construction work along the HS2 railway in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, 10 May 2026. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/ReutersView image in fullscreenConstruction work along the HS2 railway in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, 10 May 2026. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/ReutersOpinionHS2HS2 is the wildest white elephant in British history. Please put it out of its miserySimon JenkinsThe government is in thrall to the sunk-cost fallacy. Scrap the project, and use the money for a renaissance in urban transitThu 21 May 2026 12.59 EDTLast modified on Thu 21 May 2026 13.01 EDTShareSo it is official, as if that makes a difference. After a 15-month review by the new chief executive, the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has revealed that HS2 will now cost up to £102.7bn and trains may not start until 2039.
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