HS2 Chairman Urges MPs To Speed Up Plans

The chairman of HS2 has called on politicians to accelerate the construction of the high-speed line to reduce the £50bn cost of the project.

In a new report, Sir David Higgins has proposed a fast-tracked building timetable for the northern, phase two, section of the highly controversial project.

Currently the scheme's first phase, which will see a new line connect London to Birmingham, is set for completion 2026.

The second phase, which will take the line in a Y-shape to the North West and North East, is due to be completed around 2032/33.

But now Sir David said building work on both phases should be started at the same time and the second phase completed six years earlier than planned - by 2027.

In addition, he said the line should stretch 43 miles further north than planned, to a new transport hub at Crewe in Cheshire.

He also proposed a brand new station at London Euston, but added that plans to link HS2 with HS1, the London to Kent Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link, should be reconsidered.

Sir David believes that speeding up the project would help keep costs under control because it will reduce uncertainty and limit the impact of inflation.

The current whole-line cost, including contingencies, is £42.6bn, with £7.5bn for the trains.

Mr Cable supports Sir David's proposals because of 'economic benefits'

Business Secretary Vince Cable expressed support for Sir David's proposals, saying there was clearly a "compelling argument" for speeding up the project.

In an interview with The Observer, the Liberal Democrat said: "Creating jobs outside London, and closing the gap between north and south, has been one of this Government's top priorities.

"On every visit I make to the north of England, I've heard businesses and council leaders make a compelling case for getting to the north more quickly by accelerating parts of the HS2 build.

"That would ensure the economic benefits can be shared sooner by everyone around the country and deserves serious consideration by government."

But shadow chancellor Ed Balls is concerned about the costs with other former Labour grandees expressing reservations about the scheme.

Last week, Mr Balls said Sir David needed to show that costs "have come down markedly".

Anti-HS2 groups have also cast doubt on the possibility of bringing forward the phase 2 work while the revamped Euston plan was seen as merely bringing "more wealth and work into London".

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