Shapps hints at HS2 rethink

Grant Shapps has contributed to expanding speculation over the future of the High Speed 2 rail project, saying that ministers will not “blindly follow” the controversial plans first proposed in 2009.

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.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the transport secretary signalled that a major rethink of the project could be on the cards, explaining: “We want to make sure we get trains to Leeds in a way that actually benefits people on the network and not blindly follow some plan invented 15 to 20 years ago which no longer benefits people.”

He also said that connecting northern cities in the region on an east-west route must be taken into account

He said: “Midlands Rail Hub and Northern Powerhouse Rail are things… they’ve been invented, they hadn’t been when HS2 was first designed.
“We need to work these things together. Are we doing things in the best way and in the right order?”

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon blasted Mr Shapps’ comments as “insulting”.

“You cannot trust a word the Tories say,” he said. “Expecting people to accept endless rebadging of promises made years ago is insulting.

“Poor transport connectivity continues to hold back the North, Midlands and beyond and the Conservatives’ record is one of total failure to deliver.

“Communities that stand to lose out once again – thanks to the Government’s incompetence and inability to keep projects on track – will rightly feel betrayed by yet another broken promise dressed up as a new announcement.”