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The reset had been expected to set a fresh budget and delivery timetable in March.<\/p>\n
But Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander intervened and ordered HS2 to test whether a simpler railway specification could cut costs and get services running sooner.<\/p>\n
Top of the hit list is HS2\u2019s original 360km\/h design speed.<\/p>\n
Ministers believe dropping to a proven high-speed standard of 300km\/h to 320km\/h could slash risk in signalling, controls, commissioning and train testing while having only a limited impact on journey times.<\/p>\n
Wild said the new plan would now be completed by the \u201cend of this year\u201d in a fresh update on the HS2 project\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe\u2019re very, very clear of our priorities in the next four years, and we\u2019re on track to deliver the baseline schedule by the end of this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we\u2019ve always said, it\u2019s taking a couple of years to do this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is that? Well, we\u2019ve got to get it right, because this reset will be the last time that we do it to the end of the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wild added: \u201cI am determined to explore every opportunity to remove the over-specification and complexity from this project to bring down costs and delivery timelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will ensure the updated cost and schedule estimates are robust, rather than rush the process and risk publishing figures that we do not trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
HS2 said work on the ground was still pushing ahead while the reset is finalised.<\/p>\n
All tunnelling between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street has now been completed.<\/p>\n
At Curzon Street, 2,000 piles have been installed to support the new terminal station with the concrete superstructure contract due to be announced shortly. Around 2,700 viaduct segments have been manufactured at Coleshill for the major Delta Junction works.<\/p>\n
Wild said: \u201cClearly we\u2019re resetting the programme, but while we do that it\u2019s absolutely essential that every single day we maximise the amount of productivity that we get for the amount of public money that we spend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really pleased with productivity. We\u2019ve achieved many notable milestones in the past year and we\u2019ve got off to a good start in this financial year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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