The likelihood of HS2 finishing at Euston is looking “increasingly positive”, London mayor Sadiq Khan has said.
Khan gave an upbeat reading on his hopes for the endangered station project as he set out his plans to attract transport investment last night (2 October) at the London Transport Museum’s annual dinner.
The Labour mayor praised the new government’s responsiveness to his building plans, including consenting new homes at Cockfosters and Oxford Street pedestrianisation.
He added: “While I don’t want to tempt fate, it’s looking increasingly positive that HS2 will come to Euston.”
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last October that the proposed HS2 terminus at Euston station would no longer be publicly funded, casting major doubt on whether the station would be built at all.
In February, the Public Accounts Committee said it was “highly sceptical” the government could attract private investment in the project, while Mace chair Mark Reynolds said his firm’s private finance proposal had “gone into a black hole”.
However, it is rumoured that chancellor Rachel Reeves is will green light the Euston terminus in this month’s Budget, Construction News’ sister publication New Civil Engineer reported this week.
Khan’s positive note on HS2 accompanied bold plans for transport infrastructure for his third four-year stint as mayor. He said he would use his position as mayor to lobby for more transport investment in London, including for proposed DLR extension to Thamesmead, the West London Orbital and Bakerloo line extension.
Taken together, the projects would spur the construction of tens of thousands of homes, he added.
Khan also pledged to protect the route for a proposed Crossrail Two, a north-south rapid rail route mirroring the Elizabeth line.
He said: “When London builds, Britain benefits. It’s a basic formula, but it works.”
However, Khan warned that “years of political instability and economy illiteracy” would hamper the new government’s spending.
“I don’t expect change to happen suddenly, but I’m confident it will happen gradually,” he said.
