Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans for revisions to or re-routing of High Speed 2 have been prepared in the event that ground investigations in the Chilterns reveal that tunnelling in the area adds significantly to costs or presents unacceptable risks.

The HS2 Phase One hybrid Bill contains powers to vary the alignment of the track (or tunnel) either vertically and/or horizontally within the defined ‘Limits of Deviation’ set out in the Bill. Variation of the alignment within these limits would only be implemented in extreme circumstances.

HS2 Ltd has taken a precautionary approach to planning the tunnels in the Chilterns and consequently the preliminary view, based on the available ground investigation information, does not indicate that any tunnel re-alignment will be necessary.