High Speed Two trains could run 60kmh slower than originally planned, the department for transport has confirmed.

With a route already cut short, more savings are being sought for the new rail line which will ultimately connect Birmingham to London.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander says she will "look at every opportunity to claw back construction time", with reduced speed said to be among the options available.

The government says this will have a "negligible impact on projected journey times" and get passengers "onto trains sooner".

HS2 was originally commissioned to run at 360kmh, which would have made the trains the fastest conventional high-speed trains in the world.

However, no railway in the UK, or globally, is currently engineered for 360kmh. - a statement from the Department for Transport said.

The government says it means HS2 would have to wait for HS2 tracks to be built before testing any trains – "an approach which could increase costs and delay the completion of the project". 

Now the government is looking at reducing the speed to 300-320kmh.

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Ms Alexander, said: "This government is determined to deliver HS2 as effectively and efficiently as possible. 

"In doing so, I will look at every opportunity to claw back construction time, save taxpayers money and ensure the project delivers for the country.  

"I share the public's anger about the waste and mess of the past which is why this government is pulling HS2 out of its sclerosis and setting it on a more sensible course.  

"We're getting a grip, controlling costs, and getting on with delivering the transport infrastructure this country needs."

The transport secretary has tasked HS2 with exploring more options "to remove complexity that could cut billions in costs and reduce delays for the project".

After investigating further opportunities to bring down costs and delivery timelines, HS2 CEO Mark Wild will report back to the Transport Secretary in the summer, alongside a progress update.