Sir David Higgins is known to most on the railway for holding two of the biggest roles there are – as a former Chairman of Network Rail and former Chairman of HS2. But he was also Chief Executive of the London 2012 Summer Olympics Delivery Authority before that.

Australian-born, Higgins has returned to the HS2 spotlight as chair of a private sector consortium proposing the Midlands-Northwest Rail Link (the alternative to the cancelled HS2 Phase 2).

He speaks candidly of his time at HS2, the decisions made on the project, its economics, and his views on former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2, while also delving into discussion of wider rail issues.

In this interview:

(00:00) Intro and what brought Sir David Higgins to the UK?

(01:28) His time at the Olympic Delivery Authority?

(03:50) Why join Network Rail before the London 2012 Olympics?

(05:41) Time at Network Rail

(08:39) Why did he join HS2?

(10:16) What did he think about Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2?

(11:59) Was the strategic pitch and narrative for HS2 wrong?

(14:51) Was not including wider economic benefits a missed opportunity?

(19:02) Did the constant change of senior people involved have an impact?

(22:33) The costs of HS2

(29:59) HS2 contracts

(32:10) Skills and apprentices on HS2

(35:19) Government oversight of HS2

(38:34) Midlands North West Rail Link

(43:43) Are the urgent actions happening?

(45:00) The funding strategy

(47:30) Not going to Euston: Mad?

(50:15) What happens next?

(50:41) View of the current political landscape for the railway

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Ahead of the Autumn Budget on October 30 2024, Richard spoke to the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA’s) Chief Executive Darren Caplan about what the railway’s supply chain wants to see announced.

They discuss: the economic value of investment in the railway, the importance of a pipeline of work to secure the supply chain, the part private finance might play, and some specific projects such as Euston station, new rolling stock orders and electrification.

In this episode:

(00:00) Intro (02:36) Labour’s first 100 days (05:39) RIA’s Budget submission theme and motivations (09:47) Economic value of rail investment (14:58) The role of private finance (18:02) Land Value Capture schemes (20:02) Urgent actions – why no HS2? (22:32) Optimism about the future?

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It’s an HS2 special this week! Is an HS2 Phase 2a Euston to Crewe revival on the cards? We look into rumours that the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to reverse Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel the project.

Sir David Higgins – we preview an exclusive interview with the former HS2 Chairman.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh launches an independent review into HS2 Phase 1, led by James Stewart… and we’re pretty underwhelmed.

In this episode:

(00:00) Intro

(00:59) HS2 Special

(01:20) Is an HS2 Phase 2a revival on the cards?

(05:55) Henri Murison, Northern Powerhouse Partnership interview

(29:56) Sir David Higgins interview preview

(33:49) Independent review launched into HS2 Phase 1

(48:18) Thanks to SuperThanks and Members

(49:32) Railway News Round Up

(49:34) Strikes announced on London Underground

(50:43) First new Piccadilly Line train delivered

(52:29) HS2 Birmingham Curzon Street station construction progress

(53:12) Transpennine Route Upgrade Transport and Works Act Order

(55:03) Network Rail employs goats at Folkestone

(56:17) The Quiz (1:00:39) Rail Delivery Group free travel for military personnel and veterans

Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and support the channel further too.

YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Patreon - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Green Signals: Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.greensignals.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow: X (Twitter) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/greensignallers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/greensignallers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)