We hit the streets of Birmingham to ask the public whether they think the HS2 rail link to London will ever be finished — and if it is, whether they’d actually use it. With billions already spent and more delays looming, many are questioning whether the project will ever deliver on its promises.
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00:01It's a project that promised to shrink the country, boost the economy and bring jobs right here to Birmingham.
00:08But HS2's lung and messy journey has turned Fife into frustration.
00:13Billions in and a lot of Brummies are still waiting for the first sign of a Finnish line.
00:19Meanwhile, ministers keep adjusting the goalposts and the price tag.
00:23For a city built on trade and movement, it rises a blunt question.
00:28Are people ready to believe in another promise?
00:30We've been asking people on the ground, will they ever see the Birmingham to London League finished?
00:36Absolutely not.
00:38Do you know what I mean?
00:39Like, I think it's just one big scam.
00:42Absolutely.
00:43Do you know what I mean?
00:44Like, how can they justify that sort of money?
00:47Do you know what I mean?
00:48Just from here to London?
00:50How?
00:51To be honest, I want to see it myself because London is an amazing city.
00:56And there have been a lot of development in Birmingham right now.
00:58Like, a lot of companies have moved their offices, their headquarters from London to Birmingham.
01:02So it would be great if we can have an easy commute from London to Birmingham.
01:05I really don't know and I don't think, I think it's a bit of a white elephant because the services are already quite quick anyway.
01:12And with everybody able to work on trains now, is that extra time really going to make any difference?
01:18So it might be, who knows?
01:21It's like most things, they'll start stuff, realise that they haven't got the funding or they can't afford to fund it or don't want to because there's a cheap or other alternative.
01:31And it's just one of them, it's just another project they'll start and then never finish, mate.
01:38Whether it's optimism or pure disbelief, there's no shortage of views.
01:43Some feel it's too big to fail, others see it as another political white elephant, destined to gather dust like so many grand ideas before it.
01:51In the Midlands, promises of prosperity mean a lot, but patience is wearing thin and it's not just about the track itself.
01:58The knock-on effect for jobs, investment and Birmingham's role in the national economy hang in the balance.
02:04We also ask people another simple question, if the link does get finished, would they actually use it?
02:12I don't know. I don't know, to tell you the truth.
02:16Probably not. Living in Solihull, I'd have to come all the way into Birmingham probably to use it or get out to wherever the hub is near Birmingham International and I'll just use Solihull probably and go in from there.
02:29Not really. I've got excuses to go London but I would never use it. I'd just use a normal train like everybody else.
02:35I would not use it, no. There's other ways of getting around the country, do you know what I mean? It's just a waste of money, I think.
02:41For sure. For sure. I would definitely love to use it because I myself work as an engineer.
02:49So there's a lot of opportunity in London for the jobs and everything. But again, the living is very expensive in London.
02:56So I would, if HS2 were to be completed, I would be living in Birmingham and working in London.
02:59So thank you very much for joining me.
03:03Please, thank you very much for joining us in London.
03:08OK, thanks, guys.
03:14I've had a great stay.
03:16OK, thanks for joining us.