“No clear end in sight” to HS2 delays and costs

MPs have said that there is “no clear end in sight” to the costs and delays of the High Speed Two (HS2) project.

The House of Commons public accounts committee have estimated that the continuing cost of the project could be £98 billion compared to the initial cost projections of £55.7 billion.

The first phase of the project, a high-speed link between London and Birmingham is currently under construction, however the completion of the full project remains in doubt.

Former Green party leader Caroline Lucas stated during a debate on Tuesday that: “HS2’s legacy will be one of environmental annihilation, eye-watering expense and broken promises. It should be scrapped”.

Former Liberal Democrat MP and crossbench peer Lord Alton also slammed the plans, stating via Twitter: “From the start I have argued that HS2 would grow like topsy. Imagine all the good £98 billion of public money could have been used for-including upgraded east/west rail links in the north and reopened local railway lines.”