This Government is expected to announce next week that HS2 will now be terminating at Euston station.
Works on HS2 infrastructure at Euston were paused last March due to “inflationary pressure” and the need to find a more “affordable design”, according to HS2 Ltd.
But an announcement to revive the plans are expected in the upcoming Budget.
“Euston was always planned to be part of the picture for HS2 and we're hoping to make an announcement on that very soon. “
“It would never have made sense to leave it between Old Oak Common and Birmingham”, says transport secretary Louise Haigh.@LouHaigh | @AasmahMir pic.twitter.com/X5sNCXcq7q
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) October 8, 2024
According to a report carried out by the Department of Transport, up to 300,000 people each day could be travelling in and out of Euston, were the HS2 extension go ahead.
But there are concerns that the current infrastructure would not be able to cope with the increase in passengers.
Euston infrastructure ‘so uniquely poor’
One commuter described the current set-up at Euston to City News as “so uniquely poor” and having to endure “the medieval method of someone physically checking your tickets.”
She also highlighted that a “20 minute queue for the toilets” is “horrible.”
Her fear is that the situation would only worsen with the new HS2 line because of the “frequency of people travelling back and forth to Birmingham” is going to “increase without any extra facilities.”
There are also concerns about the safety of passengers at Euston.
Last August, Politico reported that award-winning railway engineer Gareth Dennis said that overcrowding at the station was “unsafe.”
Dennis was sacked by his employer SYSTRA, an engineering company that works at Euston.
City News reached out to Dennis for comment, but no reply was received.
Locals’ concern over impact of construction
The only confirmed infrastructure for the HS2 extension is a new station – but work has been halted since the project was paused last year.
The ‘Sugar Cube’ station would provide six platforms and a connection to Euston tube station.
Works first started at the station in 2017. However, Camden Town Council reports that 1300 homes will affected by the noise of construction, as well as seven schools and 73 businesses.
And it warns that 220 homes, including over 100 council properties, would be demolished – meaning up to 1,000 people could be forced to move.
Despite works officially stopping over a year ago, the site is still closed off.
‘Spiralling costs’ of HS2
The original contract for HS2 related works at Euston was given to companies Mace and Dragados, worth £1.3 billion.
Overran deadlines and construction issues would likely mean an increase in cost for the development.
It may also result in new contracts being issued.
The upcoming budget will dictate the future of HS2 at Euston.
Commuters will have to wait to see if further investment is announced to deal with.
