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HS2鈥檚 Euston station will be downsized from 11 to 10 platforms, the government has confirmed.

The railway鈥檚 central London terminus has been changed to a 鈥渓ess complex, more efficient鈥� design, HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson said in the project鈥檚 latest six-monthly report.

It follows an order by the Department of Transport in February to look at rejigging the station to reduce costs and save construction time.

The redesign means that the station, which is being built by a JV between Mace and Dragados, can be built in a single stage rather than two stages as originally proposed.

Stephenson said the station will still be able to support the full operation of the HS2 network, serving 17 trains an hour as set out in the full business case for the 拢44.6bn first phase of the railway.

He added that 拢400m of potential added costs for the station job outlined in the last six-monthly report still remain but are now expected to be reduced as the new station design is developed over the coming months.

The report also revealed that around 拢600m in cost issues have emerged for 鈥渟lower than expected鈥� mobilisation of main works civils contractors for phase one.

The delays were attributed to enabling works handovers, design approvals and securing planning consents.

And there has been a further 拢150m potential cost increase for works on the existing Euston network that are required for the new HS2 station.

In total, cost pressures on the railway have increased by some 拢500m since the last report and now stand at 拢1.3bn.

This is still within the project鈥檚 拢5.6bn contingency fund, of which around 拢800m has already been spent, leaving a remaining 拢4.8bn.

To date, out of the phase one target cost of 拢40.3bn, 拢12.9bn has been spent, with an additional 拢1bn for land and property provisions. A further 拢12.4bn has been contracted, with the remaining amount not yet under contract or drawn as contingency.

Meanwhile, the report said environmental protestors have now cost the railway up to 拢80m, adding that some protestors had turned to 鈥渧iolent and aggressive behaviour, particularly against HS2 Ltd鈥檚 supply chain鈥�.

The government is taking steps to ensure that illegal protestor activity is 鈥減roperly dealt with鈥� and that safety risks are minimised, the report said.

Stephenson said phase one was still on schedule to open to passengers between 2029 and 2033, with phase 2a from Birmingham to Crewe expected to open between 2030 and 2034.