2041 is when HS2 will finally make it to Euston station, 15 years late. That’s if the government actually gets its act together and starts designing a station or spending the money necessary to finish the train line.
The project has already been salami sliced to death, the North Eastern arm has been amputated, the line is now little more than a slightly faster route between outer London and Manchester, if we are lucky.
The damage is not just to the UK’s infrastructure, but also to its reputation and its attractiveness. I can think of no other country that would abandon, delay, cut, and disembowel such a major infrastructure project nor do it in such an incompetent way.
Investors will make note of this. Why come to the UK when it can’t even build a train line, when its government changes its mind half way through major commitments, when it runs out of money, is in hock to Nimby's and can’t even decide to build a train line to a major station?
HS2 is a like a giant advertising hoarding for the UK and it says “Don’t come here, we can’t cope.”
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
By Jonty Bloom Media
The problem is that it was never properly planned and costed. (Back of a fag packet sketch design and finger in the air costs management?)
Of course that would have taken time and the cost estimate would have ensured it was never started. The problems with mega projects is well documented as I’m sure you know. But we are where we are and the outcome is exactly as you describe.