Letters: The HS2 farce highlights Britain’s inability to deliver major projects
1 year, 3 months ago

Letters: The HS2 farce highlights Britain’s inability to deliver major projects

The Telegraph  

SIR – Various interested parties are now expressing concern over the possible cancellation of HS2, or part of it. The reality is that HS2 is already a national embarrassment, and has merely shown that our politicians and engineers are no longer capable of handling major infrastructure projects. Nigel Bayley Kidsgrove, Staffordshire SIR – When HS2 was announced, at my local we predicted it would end up costing three times as much. Keith Taylor Hayling Island, Hampshire SIR – Amid growing calls for HS2 to be scrapped, possibly in its entirety, in the wake of escalating costs, delays and proposed cuts to routes north of Birmingham, can I make an appeal for some lateral thinking? Lord Bamford Chairman, JCB Rocester, Staffordshire SIR – If the first leg of HS2 had begun in Manchester and ended in Birmingham, I wonder whether our Westminster politicians would have wanted to pull the plug before it reached London.

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History of this topic

HS2 boss issues stark warning for 2025
1 week, 4 days ago

HS2 boss issues stark warning for 2025

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy HS2 is in a “very serious situation” and needs a “fundamental reset”, the new boss of …

Government still does not know how much HS2 will cost, MPs told
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Government still does not know how much HS2 will cost, MPs told

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dame Bernadette Kelly said: “I say with great regret, sitting before the committee, that …

HS2 costs could hit £66bn, progress report says
3 weeks, 3 days ago

HS2 costs could hit £66bn, progress report says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The cost of building HS2 …

Government to oversee building of HS2 amid spiralling costs
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Government to oversee building of HS2 amid spiralling costs

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has also ordered an independent …

‘Uncancelling’ HS2 is a good start – but can’t we go even further?
2 months, 3 weeks ago

‘Uncancelling’ HS2 is a good start – but can’t we go even further?

The Independent  

As a “glass half-empty” man, news about grand projects, and especially in public transport, tends to provoke cold fear rather than optimism. Try as I might, I can’t help being suspicious about the leaked announcement that the government is going to reinstate the northern extension of HS2 – a scheme freighted with such high hopes, but less well favoured in …

Engineering bodies abolished after overseeing debacles like HS2
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Engineering bodies abolished after overseeing debacles like HS2

The Telegraph  

He also criticised the IPA, which reports to the Cabinet Office and Treasury and which is meant to support delivery of all types of major projects ranging from railways and roads to defence, schools and hospitals. If we’re honest, it’s become a bit of a compliance function, and needs to be more about speeding up delivery and focusing on delivery.” …

Taxpayers 'took a £2.1bn hit from scaling back HS2' - as it emerges former chief executive walked away with £290,000 before the northern leg was axed
5 months, 1 week ago

Taxpayers 'took a £2.1bn hit from scaling back HS2' - as it emerges former chief executive walked away with £290,000 before the northern leg was axed

Daily Mail  

Taxpayers took a hit of more than £2billion from the decision to scale back HS2, it was revealed today. Rishi Sunak declared he was cancelling the northern leg of HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester during his keynote speech at last year's Conservative Party conference Mr Sunak blasted the project's ballooning costs and promised to plough the saved clash into hundreds …

HS2 cuts throw away once-in-a-generation opportunity, warns David Cameron
1 year, 3 months ago

HS2 cuts throw away once-in-a-generation opportunity, warns David Cameron

The Independent  

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Cancelling HS2 is only the start of the Conservatives’ Great Train Robbery
1 year, 3 months ago

Cancelling HS2 is only the start of the Conservatives’ Great Train Robbery

The Independent  

Once Rishi Sunak confirms the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2, the high-speed rail line will stand as a permanent and embarrassing monument to British failure. With as much as £28bn now spent and probably the same amount again needed to finish it, HS2 – a project first proposed in 2008 – remains shrouded in mystery. Sunak, who is …

Boris Johnson and David Cameron attack Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap HS2 northern leg
1 year, 3 months ago

Boris Johnson and David Cameron attack Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap HS2 northern leg

The Telegraph  

Two former prime ministers have criticised the decision to axe the northern leg of HS2. David Cameron and Boris Johnson accused Rishi Sunak of throwing away a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”. The £36 billion saved will be channelled towards pothole repairs and constructing a new northern transport network. This includes £2.5 billion for the construction of a new mass transit system covering …

HS2 scrapped: ‘Biggest two fingers to the North in decades’: Locals hit out at plans to scrap HS2
1 year, 3 months ago

HS2 scrapped: ‘Biggest two fingers to the North in decades’: Locals hit out at plans to scrap HS2

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Residents and business leaders have slammed the government’s decision to …

Key dates of the HS2 rail project
1 year, 3 months ago

Key dates of the HS2 rail project

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. – July 2017 HS2 Ltd accepts it was a “serious error” to make £1.76 …

Key dates of the HS2 rail project
1 year, 3 months ago

Key dates of the HS2 rail project

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. – July 2017 HS2 Ltd accepts it was a “serious error” to make £1.76 …

HS2 Stage 2 could be scrapped: Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt 'in talks to axe high speed rail route north of Birmingham' to save £34billion ahead of the next election (after already spending £2.3billion
1 year, 3 months ago

HS2 Stage 2 could be scrapped: Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt 'in talks to axe high speed rail route north of Birmingham' to save £34billion ahead of the next election (after already spending £2.3billion

Daily Mail  

Rishi Sunak is facing widespread anger today amid claims that the second stage of the controversial HS2 high-speed rail line could be axed to save money. Tory MP Michael Fabricant said scrapping Phase 2 would be 'sensible' and would protect rural areas north of his Litchfield constituency, where Phase 1 will join the current West Coast mainline. The Prime Minister's …

What is HS2, where will it go and when will it be completed?
1 year, 3 months ago

What is HS2, where will it go and when will it be completed?

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After years of setbacks, controversy and spiralling costs, phase two …

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt in talks to scrap phase two of HS2 as costs spiral
1 year, 3 months ago

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt in talks to scrap phase two of HS2 as costs spiral

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are in discussions about scrapping the …

HS2 rail plans rated “unachievable” by official watchdog
1 year, 5 months ago

HS2 rail plans rated “unachievable” by official watchdog

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy HS2 has been given a rating of “unachievable” by an …

HS2 rated ‘unachievable’ by major projects body
1 year, 5 months ago

HS2 rated ‘unachievable’ by major projects body

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The red rating, contained in the IPA’s annual report on major projects – which …

Leaked document ‘blows apart’ claims HS2 delay will save money – Labour
1 year, 9 months ago

Leaked document ‘blows apart’ claims HS2 delay will save money – Labour

The Independent  

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Government warned HS2 may never be resurrected after cost-saving delays
1 year, 10 months ago

Government warned HS2 may never be resurrected after cost-saving delays

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Lord Moylan He said: “In the current economic climate the Government is taking an …

HS2 boss hails ‘immense progress’
2 years ago

HS2 boss hails ‘immense progress’

The Independent  

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Now it's £1.3bn! Bill for HS2 goes up again after Covid delays and plan scale back Euston terminal
3 years, 2 months ago

Now it's £1.3bn! Bill for HS2 goes up again after Covid delays and plan scale back Euston terminal

Daily Mail  

The cost of delivering the first phase of HS2 is set to soar by £1.3 billion, the Government has admitted. The cost of delivering the first phase of a controversial high-speed rail project, HS2, is set to soar by £1.3 billion, due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and plans to scale back size of Euston terminal The ballooning …

What is HS2, when will it be completed and how much will it cost?
4 years, 11 months ago

What is HS2, when will it be completed and how much will it cost?

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Phase one involves building a line from London Euston via Old Oak Common in west London via Birmingham Interchange to …

Boris Johnson confirms he has given HS2 the 'green signal'
4 years, 11 months ago

Boris Johnson confirms he has given HS2 the 'green signal'

The Telegraph  

Boris Johnson has confirmed that the £88bn HS2 rail line has received the "green signal," arguing that the "exploding costs" are outweighed by its "fundamental benefits". In a move that will divide opinion among Conservative MPs, the Prime Minister said the project will go ahead after a review made the "clinching case" in its favour. Speaking after the Cabinet this …

HS2: Boris Johnson set to give green light for multi-billion pound rail project
4 years, 11 months ago

HS2: Boris Johnson set to give green light for multi-billion pound rail project

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham today appealed for him to put the section north of …

Grant Shapps casts doubt on future of HS2
4 years, 11 months ago

Grant Shapps casts doubt on future of HS2

Daily Mail  

Grant Shapps today appeared to cast doubt on the future of HS2 after an official government review into the viability of the project said it could end up costing as much as £106 billion. Now the Oakervee review of the project, led by former HS2 chairman Doug Oakervee, has apparently warned that it could ultimately cost north of £100 billion. …

HS2 may be a mess, but it’s still essential for the future of UK rail travel
5 years, 4 months ago

HS2 may be a mess, but it’s still essential for the future of UK rail travel

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. As you may …

HS2 could be delayed by seven years and cost £22 billion more than forecast, says head of firm behind it
5 years, 4 months ago

HS2 could be delayed by seven years and cost £22 billion more than forecast, says head of firm behind it

The Telegraph  

HS2 could cost up to £22 billion more than its previous budget and may be delayed by seven years, the company building the high-speed railway said. In a statement to the Commons, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said the anticipated costs had risen from £55.7 billion in 2015 prices to between £72 billion and £78 billion. The first phase, from …

HS2: Boris Johnson’s government announces review into whether major rail project should be axed
5 years, 4 months ago

HS2: Boris Johnson’s government announces review into whether major rail project should be axed

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Federation of …

Scrapping HS2 would be a worse idea than Boris’s garden bridge
5 years, 5 months ago

Scrapping HS2 would be a worse idea than Boris’s garden bridge

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It would …

The colossal HS2 bill could cost the north its much-needed railway
5 years, 7 months ago

The colossal HS2 bill could cost the north its much-needed railway

The Independent  

By now, if things had gone to plan, we would have been stuck deep in to Leveson 2 – the second part of the judicial inquiry into the behaviour of the British press, following the phone-hacking scandal. open image in gallery HS2 protestors outside Euston station The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, the campaigning group chaired by George Osborne, which is pushing …

Ministers 'keen to kill of HS2' over budget concerns Dispatches The Great Train Robbery reveals
5 years, 11 months ago

Ministers 'keen to kill of HS2' over budget concerns Dispatches The Great Train Robbery reveals

Daily Mail  

Government ministers are 'keen to kill off' HS2 as costs threaten to spiral out of control, it was claimed today. But senior government sources have now said they are 'actively considering' scrapping the scheme amid fears the bill could hit £6billion a year - roughly equivalent to the total for the rest of the rail network put together. Under the …

Costs of HS2 'vastly underestimated', whistleblower says
6 years ago

Costs of HS2 'vastly underestimated', whistleblower says

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Doug Thornton, former land and property director, said the figures underestimated the amount HS2 would have to pay, and that …

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