‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
Feb 02, 2026•41 min
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Summary
The episode retraces the proposed route of HS2, examining the railway's escalating costs, significant delays, and its evolution from a high-speed commuter line to a capacity booster. It delves into the profound environmental and human toll on communities, farms, and ancient woodlands, juxtaposing HS2's mitigation efforts with local residents' deep frustrations over disruption and unresolved compensation, alongside rare instances of optimism amidst the colossal construction.Episode description
Ten years after I first followed the proposed route, I retraced my steps to see what life was like along the world’s most expensive, heavily delayed railway line By Patrick Barkham. Read by Dermot Daly. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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