HS2 is a planned high-speed railway line and network of passenger train services in England. It is the largest infrastructure project in Europe and the most important economic and social regeneration project in decades. The new railway line, which is currently under construction, will run between the West Midlands and London, with a branch to Birmingham. The network of train services will use the new line and existing conventional track to reach their destinations in the Midlands, Northern England, and Scotland. The project is designed to help modernize the rail network, slash travel times, and help Britain catch up with other European nations that operate well-connected high-speed rail networks. The first HS2 services will run between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common in London between 2029 and 2033 and expand as new sections of the network are built. The project has faced repeated cutbacks to its original route, and the alternate transport initiatives have been announced by the government. The northern section of HS2 connecting Birmingham and Manchester has been canceled, meaning the planned railway will only link London with Birmingham in central England. The government plans to use £36 billion ($44 billion) to invest in hundreds of other railway, road, and bus transport projects and another £12 billion for faster connectivity between the northern English cities of Liverpool and Manchester.