HS2

The Public Accounts Committee reported concerns over the financial viability of the HS2 project, after its northern leg was cancelled last year.

HS2’s executive chair, Sir Jon Thompson, asserts that there will be continuous progress in the high-speed rail project next year.

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority had no confidence in the deliverability on the cost or the schedule of HS2 phases 2a and 2b for the past year.

In the wake of the decision to axe the northern leg of HS2, the government said that HS2 land safeguarding will be lifted ‘at the earliest opportunity.’

The prime minister committed to a boost of £36 billion for northern infrastructure as he promised political change ahead of a general election.

Birmingham to Manchester line scrapped but Mr. Sunak pledged £36 billion to improve transport in the north and Midlands.

The opposition party wants to build the high speed rail links but will have to assess related numbers when the election comes, the front bencher said.

Failure to deliver HS2 will leave swathes of the north with Victorian transport infrastructure that is unfit for purpose, the leaders’ joint letter said.

Tory infighting and varying stances from major parties has led to intense debate over the future of the HS2 project, ahead of Conservative Party Conference.

The minister said it would be crazy not to revisit it after the ‘enormous’ spending on COVID-19 and Ukraine.

During a heated House of Commons debate on Monday, MPs fired HS2 questions at the Under-Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden.