Wednesday 9 July,
09:15, Grimond Room, Portcullis House
The Transport Committee will dissect the causes of HS2's cost
overruns and delays and ask what lessons can be learnt for the
delivery of future infrastructure projects.
HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, Mark Wild, makes his first appearance at
the Committee since taking on the role in December
2024.
As the project moves from civil engineering work to building the
railway line, Wild could be asked what lessons he will apply from
his time overseeing Crossrail, and what could be learnt from
major projects in other countries.
The cross-party Committee is likely to ask the panel for the
reasons why cost forecasts were underestimated and why HS2 has
missed key milestones. Mr Wild has suggested that the project was
started too early and with insufficient planning.
A lack of clarity and consistency about the strategic case for
HS2 – journey times, connectivity or added capacity – will be on
MPs' minds.
The Committee may also ask about the political process – whether
there should have continued to be a Minister for HS2 (as
suggested in the recent Stewart Review), about the flaws of using
a hybrid bill to obtain planning consents, and DfT's oversight of
the project.
The panel is also likely to take questions on the skills and
capability gaps at HS2 Ltd, and failures in its governance.
Witnesses from 09:15
- Mark Wild, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd
- Alan Over, Director General Major Rail Projects Group,
Department for Transport
