HS2 will definitely perform better than HS1. The simple reason is that the HS1 route stops off no where of interest in terms of business, additional transport (ie. airports/ports) or big residential towns and cities. (we can't really call Ebbsfleet and Ashford big areas)
HS2 will call at North London (Old Oak Common), and then spur off to LHR, then off to Birmingham and then possibly Manchester, Leeds and Scotland.