HS2: Leaked report urges government to press on with rail project November 12, 2019 The High Speed 2 (HS2) rail line connecting London to Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds should go ahead in its entirety despite the likelihood of massive budget overruns and falling benefit to the taxpayer, according to a draft of the official review into the project. Douglas Oakervee, a former chair of HS2 who was tasked with [...]
HS2 ‘fundamental’ to hitting UK emissions target, says lobby group November 11, 2019 The HS2 rail project is “fundamental” to the UK hitting its net zero emissions target by 2050, according to a report commissioned by rail industry bosses. HS2, which is planned to link London with the north of England and Scotland via trains travelling at more than 200mph, will mean fewer people take cars and short-haul [...]
Boris Johnson ‘wary of putting HS2 on scrap heap’ November 10, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has yet to make his mind up on the High Speed 2 rail project but called it “incredibly expensive” late last week, as a government-commissioned review into its future enters its final stages. Speaking on the campaign trail in Nottingham near one of the railway’s planned stops, he said he was [...]
HS2 review still unfinished, with no final decision expected until after election November 3, 2019 A decision on whether to proceed with the controversial HS2 rail project appears to have been pushed back until after the upcoming General Election, amid uncertainty over how it will feature in party manifestos. Lord Tony Berkeley, the deputy chairman of the official review into the high-speed rail scheme, said the report remains unfinished, with [...]
HS2 review panel considers axing eastern extension October 5, 2019 The High Speed 2 rail project could be scaled back in northern England to cut costs. Under plans drawn up by the panel reviewing the project, the route beyond the East Midlands to Leeds and Sheffield would be axed. Train speeds would also be cut by 40mph, in a bid to save more than £10bn, [...]
Brexit fatigue? Public Accounts Committee turns to issues with ‘immediate impact on public’ September 29, 2019 An influential parliamentary committee has decided to turn away from Brexit over the coming weeks to focus its spotlight on other issues which have “an immediate impact on the public”. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinises the value-for-money of public spending, has announced it will launch inquiries on matters including fracking, the HS2 rail [...]
Heidi Alexander: It would add ‘insult to injury’ if HS2 skips Euston September 12, 2019 It would add ‘insult to injury’ if High Speed Two (HS2) did not stop at Euston, London’s deputy mayor for transport has said. Read more: Businesses react as HS2’s price tag balloons to £88bn Former shadow cabinet minister Heidi Alexander said communities in London had already experienced “considerable disruption” around Euston, where HS2 is due [...]
Lords approved HS2 Birmingham-Crewe extension before parliament shutdown September 10, 2019 The House of Lords last night approved the High Speed Two (HS2) extension from Birmingham to Crewe before parliament was suspended for five weeks. The controversial railway, which will link London to the north in stages, is currently subject to an independent review chaired by former HS2 chair Douglas Oakervee and critic Lord Berkeley, which [...]
Minister will make ‘go, no-go’ decision on HS2 in December September 5, 2019 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has he will make a “go, no-go” decision on controversial high-speed rail project HS2 in December after a government-ordered review. Speaking to MPs today Shapps said that the review will look at HS2’s affordability, deliver ability, benefits, scope and phasing. Read more: HS2 needs a radical rethink to give Britain better [...]
Government ‘knew for years’ that HS2 will blow its budget August 27, 2019 The government has known for years that HS2, Britain’s controversial new high speed railway, is running over budget and behind schedule, it is reported. The Department for Transport (DfT) and HS2’s managers knew at least as early as 2016 about the project’s troubled outlook, according to documents seen by the BBC. Read more: Why it’s [...]