Sunday, October 20, 2024

HS2 spending set to be reviewed amid concerns costs have been underestimated by £10bn

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There have been warnings that the overall price tag could be more than £65bn.

Ms Haigh said she would be holding regular meetings to take stock of the project, which has faced repeated delays, along with Lord Hendy, the Rail Minister, and Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

It will publish reports on HS2 every six months to “ensure complete accountability and transparency”.

In a statement on Sunday, the Government poured cold water on reports that it could revive part of the line’s northern leg that was scrapped by the Tories last year in a bid to stem the ballooning bill for the development.

However, speculation remains that Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, could use her first Budget to announce that the link will be extended to Euston, despite concerns it could saddle the taxpayer with billions of pounds in extra costs.

The move would ensure that the high-speed rail route ran into the centre of London rather than ending at Old Oak Common in the west of the capital.

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