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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