The controversial HS2 high-speed rail line from West Midlands to Manchester is set to be scrapped by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, according to BBC news sources. The announcement is expected to be made in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party conference speech today. Instead, alternative projects in the north of England and Wales will be proposed, which are claimed to be better value for money and will be quicker to deliver. The future of the HS2 line has been a topic of debate for weeks, with local leaders and businesses expressing concern. Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Manchester, has stated that abandoning the Manchester link would send a negative message to people in the north claiming they are seen as “second-class citizens” when it comes to transportation.
One of the 30 businesses that urged the Prime Minister to commit to the line was Manchester United. Proponents argued that the project would shorten journey times, create more space on the rail network and create jobs outside London. However, as early as last month, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps noted that reviewing the project was important considering the increase in inflation. There has been concern over the mounting costs of the project, which are currently estimated at about £71bn. This figure does not include the recent spike in the expenses of materials and wages, among other factors.
The HS2 line was initially proposed in 2010 and approved in 2012, and has faced several delays and setbacks owing to disruption, cuts to the Eastern leg, and reductions to HS2. Over £22.5bn has already reportedly been spent building the London-Birmingham section and another £2.3bn has been spend on the second phase towards things such as buying up land and property. The news that HS2 trains would begin operating along existing tracks effectively means creating no extra space and reducing benefits on journey times. In lieu of building HS2, there have been suggestions in recent days that the government should put money into improving rail links between cities in northern England, including the £39bn Northern Powerhouse Rail plan.
Mr. Sunak’s speech will come at a challenging period for the Conservative Party, which has lagged behind Labour in polls. His last conference speech before the next general election may help overturn this trend and improve the party’s fortunes. However, local leaders and businesses who lobbied for the HS2 project are likely to express disappointment and frustration with the decision to terminate the rail line
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More