How long will it take to get from London to Birmingham on HS2?

The government says HS2 will cut the time for this journey to 49 minutes, making it 30 minutes faster than now. Importantly, the line will start at Euston, in central London, rather than a new station to the west of the capital as some had speculated in recent weeks.



The travel time between London and Birmingham on HS2 will depend on which stations you’re traveling between and which service you take.

Here’s a breakdown:

HS2 Phase 1 (London to Birmingham)

This section is under construction and is expected to open between 2029 and 2033.

  • London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street:

    • HS2 dedicated trains: The journey time will be approximately 49 minutes.
    • This is a significant reduction from the current fastest direct train time of about 1 hour 21 minutes on the West Coast Main Line.

  • London Old Oak Common (West London) to Birmingham Curzon Street:

    • HS2 dedicated trains: The journey time will be approximately 38 minutes.
    • Old Oak Common will be the initial London terminus when the line first opens, before services extend to Euston.

Important Context:

  1. Current Times: Today, Avanti West Coast and other operators run services from London Euston to Birmingham New Street in 1h 21m to 1h 52m, depending on stops.
  2. HS2 vs. Classic-Compatible Trains: The quoted ~49-minute time is for HS2’s dedicated high-speed trains running non-stop on the new line. Some services may use “classic-compatible” trains that continue onto the existing network to stations like Birmingham International or even further north, which may add a few minutes.
  3. Station Location: In Birmingham, HS2 will terminate at the new Birmingham Curzon Street station, which is adjacent to the existing Moor Street station and a

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