The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has mandated HS1 to reduce its train ticket prices from April 2025, following a discovery that it failed to meet its obligations for efficient spending.
The 109km high-speed rail line has been instructed to decrease charges by 3.8 per cent compared to its most recent plans, potentially saving passengers and freight trains up to £5m annually, as reported by .
"In its response to the draft determination, HS1 disagreed with the amount of ORR’s proposed reductions in charges," the watchdog announced this morning. "The regulator took additional evidence from HS1 and other stakeholders into account, but ultimately determined that the company’s spending plans did not meet its duties for efficient spending."
HS1, which connects London through Kent to the Channel Tunnel, operates four stations: London St Pancras, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International.
The network is utilised by Southeastern services, Eurostar passenger trains and freight trains. In an evaluation of HS1’s cost plans for the period between April 2025 and March 2030, the watchdog identified several areas in its spending plans where improvements could be implemented.
As a result, the regulator ordered the rail line to reduce renewal charges by £1.9m for the route, and £900,000 for stations, as well as cut £2.3m in charges for operations and maintenance. This action will reduce HS1’s total regulated income by over 10 per cent compared to its previous expenditure.
Feras Alshaker, director of planning and performance at the watchdog, commented: "Our thorough, independent review of HS1 Ltd’s spending plans has resulted in significantly lower costs for passenger and freight train operators using the high speed line from April 2025," and added, "Although, overall, HS1’s original plans were good, the company must now change specific areas of those plans to account for our decisions, which should benefit everyone who uses this railway."
