HS2

Chancellor moves to quash reports that high-speed rail link might not terminate at Euston.

I think the whole thing should be cancelled.” The target cost of phase one between London and Birmingham was £40.3bn at 2019 prices. As well as supporting tens of thousands of jobs, the project will connect regions across the UK, improve capacity on our railways and provide a greener option of travel.” HS2 had already planned to only run services from a new hub under construction at Old Oak Common, five miles away in the suburbs of west London, when the line opens in about 2030, after proposals in the 2019 Oakervee review for Boris Johnson. There’s not enough space for it so they couldn’t do it except maybe a shuttle service from Birmingham. Tunnelling has started west of Old Oak Common but work to cut through to Euston is not yet under way.

Earlier on Friday, reports stated the rail project linking London to the north may not even reach Euston station due to increasing costs. Due to soaring prices ...

The leg connecting Sheffield and Leeds has since been scrapped. The Government needs to make sure that work has not been in vain.” In 2015 a £55.7 billion budget was set for the project which was supposed to connect London to Birmingham and then Manchester and Leeds. “HS2 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to speedily connect the capital with cities in the North of England – and it defies all logic if the Government seriously expects commuters to have to switch onto already busy trains to complete their journey to and from central London. Commenting on the report, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “It beggars belief that the Government can spend tens of billions of pounds on a new railway from London to the North – and for it not to actually reach central London. The project which has already faced delays and was slated to cost between £72 billion and £98 billion in 2019, would instead terminate at Old Oak Common in west London, The Sun reports.

The Government has refused to confirm that HS2 will reach its central London terminus at Euston following reports that it may be delayed or scrapped.

He told the PA news agency: "The alternative in the news this morning is using Old Oak Common as a terminal station, which would work for half the number of trains that they want with a bit of redesign, but it wouldn't do the lot. A budget of £55.7 billion for the whole of HS2 was set in 2015. A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The Government remains committed to delivering HS2 to Manchester, as confirmed in the autumn statement.

High-speed trains would instead stop at a new hub in Old Oak Common where commuters would continue their journeys into central London using the Elizabeth ...

"Stop spending money building a railway people don't need. She added: "These reports just show that there are so many problems with HS2. "It's London-centric and now it turns out that it's not even going to manage to get to the centre of London." Use the money to restore the countryside and the areas that are being devastated by HS2 and look at the solutions that people need in the 21st century. You would get off at the new station - which will be fairly close to Hammersmith in west London - and take the Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road… Soaring inflation means plans for the high-speed rail project to run to central London may be scrapped completely, with trains instead stopping at a new hub at Old Oak Common in the suburbs of west London,

DfT has not denied reports that the Old Oak Common to Euston branch could be scrapped or delayed to save money.

Think of what we could do with the savings. It is expected to make a further statement later today. Alternatively, the Euston leg could be delayed until at least 2038. Huw Merriman, rail and HS2 minister, also said there would be cuts to the wider rail network enhancements pipeline, adding that there were “far too many projects in it for the funding envelope”. Speaking to a select committee, Kelly said: “It is likely that there will be some quite tough decisions that need to be taken then, including around the phasing and delivery of all our capital programmes, including HS2.” The Department for Transport (DfT) has not denied the reports, merely confirming that it is committed to delivering HS2 “to Manchester”.

Lord Berkeley called for the tens of billions of pounds being invested in the project to be diverted to improve mainline railway services.

The document also stated: “Euston is an important part of realising the benefits of HS2 and that work should continue on the section from Old Oak Common to Euston. A budget of £55.7 billion for the whole of HS2 was set in 2015. A DfT spokesman said: “The Government remains committed to delivering HS2 to Manchester, as confirmed in the autumn statement. Phase One of HS2 involves the railway being built between London and Birmingham, with the line extended from the West Midlands to Crewe in Phase 2a. Asked about HS2 following a speech in central London, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “HS2 was a specific priority for me in the autumn statement.” Lord Berkeley called for the tens of billions of pounds being invested in the project to be diverted to improve mainline railway services across Britain.

This follows reports that rising costs could mean the rail link might stop in the suburbs of west London.

I think that would be a very strange decision," he said. The estimated cost of HS2 was between £72bn and £98bn at 2019 prices. The Labour peer, who in 2019 was deputy chairman of a government review into HS2, said: "My view is that we should aim for the regions - the north and the Midlands - to have a commuter service as good as in the south-east." Henri Murison, CEO of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said that if the HS2 rail link did not go to Euston, this would have "a number of significant disadvantages". Mr Harper said inflation was not affecting the "overall affordability of HS2 in real terms" but it was "creating pressures against its existing annual funding settlements". A budget of £55.7bn for the whole of HS2 was set in 2015 - but this was made before the Leeds leg was cancelled. "It's part of the levelling up process and I think if it falls short in west London then that defeats many of the objectives of the line," he told the BBC. Work on the first phase of the project - between London and Birmingham - is well under way and that part of the line is due to open by 2033. Martin McTague from the head of the Federation of Small Businesses said HS2 was an "enormous boost" for economic prospects in the Midlands. Speaking at Bloomberg's European HQ, in London, Mr Hunt said he was "incredibly proud that under a Conservative government for the first time we have shovels in the ground". He said the government was "absolutely committed to showing that we can deliver big important infrastructure projects". Earlier, in a speech setting out his long-term vision for economic growth, the chancellor said HS2 was a "specific priority for me in the Autumn Statement".

Soaring inflation means the redeveloped Euston station may not open until 2038 and could be axed completely, with trains instead stopping at a new hub at Old ...

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh tweeted: “Insulting that the PM goes to the North-East, visits a site with a HS2 contract and refuses to give a clear commitment. The document also stated: “Euston is an important part of realising the benefits of HS2 and that work should continue on the section from Old Oak Common to Euston. Phase One of HS2 involves the railway being built between London and Birmingham, with the line extended from the West Midlands to Crewe in Phase 2a. The Government was “committed to delivering all the plans that it’s announced with rail,” he added. Rishi Sunak also insisted that the Government is “committed to delivering all the plans that it’s announced with rail”. Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to the North East, Mr Sunak said his government was “committed to investing in rail across the country”.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has dismissed a report in the Sun newspaper that the HS2 high-speed rail line would have its London terminus at Old Oak Common ...

He said: “If anyone is thinking of starting or investing in an innovation or technology-centred business, I want them to do it in the UK. It’s a false economy, and there are more sensible ways to address the issue of inflation in costs – which is occurring across all major construction projects.” Despite Hunt’s confirmation of support for HS2, opponents of the project remain motivated. “Old Oak Common station has nowhere near enough platforms to serve as the London terminus. Works have been underway there for five years and already hundreds of millions have been spent. Following the Autumn Statement, we are working through how to manage the impact of inflation and will set out any changes in due course.”

Lord Berkeley called for the tens of billions of pounds being invested in the project to be diverted to improve mainline railway services.

The document also stated: “Euston is an important part of realising the benefits of HS2 and that work should continue on the section from Old Oak Common to Euston. A budget of £55.7 billion for the whole of HS2 was set in 2015. A DfT spokesman said: “The Government remains committed to delivering HS2 to Manchester, as confirmed in the autumn statement. Phase One of HS2 involves the railway being built between London and Birmingham, with the line extended from the West Midlands to Crewe in Phase 2a. Asked about HS2 following a speech in central London, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “HS2 was a specific priority for me in the autumn statement.” Lord Berkeley called for the tens of billions of pounds being invested in the project to be diverted to improve mainline railway services across Britain.

'I don't see any conceivable circumstances in which that would not end up at Euston,' Jeremy Hunt says.

Phase One of HS2 involves the railway being built between London and Birmingham, with the line extended from the West Midlands to Crewe in Phase 2a. He claimed investment in the project would be “much better spent on improving the railway lines in the north, east and west, than going to London a bit quicker”. The document also stated: “Euston is an important part of realising the benefits of HS2 and that work should continue on the section from Old Oak Common to Euston. “What’s the point of building HS2 just to get to Birmingham? A “full business case” for HS2 published by the DfT in April 2020 stated that the target timeframe for services launching between Old Oak Common and Birmingham was 2029-2033, whereas for trains between Euston and north-west England the range was 2031-2036. “And indeed I prioritised HS2 in the autumn statement.”

After a morning of silence, the chancellor refuted rumours that the high-speed rail network would terminate at Old Oak Common in Ealing.

Yes, HS2 will be economically transformative, taking our freight off the roads, but it will also mean better connectivity and pride for us,” she said. “The North’s political leadership and business community are firmly behind it. “In very simple terms, if Old Oak Common is the terminus, you cannot have HS2 services reaching Manchester. Freeing up capacity would allow for more freight travel on the rails, helping move HGVs off the motorways. Since then, the Leeds leg has been scrapped and plans for an overground station in Manchester Anna Wrigglesworth, director of UK North at political consultancy C

The Government refused to confirm HS2 will reach its central London terminus at Euston amid reports the planned new station may be delayed or scrapped ...

He told the PA news agency: “The alternative in the news this morning is using Old Oak Common as a terminal station, which would work for half the number of trains that they want with a bit of redesign, but it wouldn’t do the lot. Construction of a 4.5-mile long tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston was expected to begin in 2024 and take two years to complete. The Sun said soaring inflation means the high-speed rail project may not run to Euston until 2038 or be scrapped completely, with trains instead stopping at a new hub at Old Oak Common in west London’s suburbs.

A peer behind an HS2 review commissioned by ex-prime minister Boris Johnson has said the entire project should be scrapped amid reports the high-speed rail ...

[Lord](/topic/lord) Berkeley called for the tens of billions of pounds being invested in the project to be diverted to improve mainline railway services across Britain. A budget of £55.7 billion for the whole of HS2 was set in 2015. The document also stated: “Euston is an important part of realising the benefits of HS2 and that work should continue on the section from Old Oak Common to Euston. A DfT spokesman said: “The Government remains committed to delivering HS2 to Manchester, as confirmed in the autumn statement. Phase One of HS2 involves the railway being built between London and Birmingham, with the line extended from the West Midlands to Crewe in Phase 2a. Lord Berkeley called for the tens of billions of pounds being invested in the project to be diverted to improve mainline railway services.

Reports claim the Euston terminal of HS2 could be scrapped due to rising costs but Jeremy Hunt says it's still happening.

[London train strikes in February and beyond: everything you need to know](https://www.timeout.com/london/news/london-train-strikes-in-february-and-beyond-everything-you-need-to-know-011723). The government needs to make sure that work has not been in vain.’ Amid soaring costs due to inflation, the south end of the line could allegedly end at Old Oak Common in North Acton instead of central London, meaning passengers would still have to take the Elizabeth line or Underground to get into town.

HS2 Rebellion said all the justifications for the project 'have gone out the window' following reports the Euston route could be scrapped.

“Our feeling is we’ve won the argument on HS2. “The protesters were right so they might even be in prison for it, they might be in prison for protesting a project which is cancelled before they even come out of prison or before they go in. Protesters who occupied underground tunnels in north London said they have “won the argument” on HS2 amid speculation the high-speed railway might never reach the area.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has insisted the High Speed 2 railway will finish in central London as officials at the project connecting the capital and northern ...

For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital, click here. You'll enjoy access to several newsletters including FirstFT, a daily newsletter with the global stories you need to know as well as Editor's Choice, a weekly newsletter featuring the editor's favourite stories. Access our essential offering with over 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering markets, politics, business, tech and more.

The group's warning comes after The Sun broke the news that the government is due to make “tough decisions” on the high speed rail project in the coming.

“Last minute changes of this nature will do nothing but add complication, delay and expense to the project where construction has already started. As a result, in September, the DfT commissioned HS2 Ltd "to develop and implement actions to bring projected costs back in line with the target cost". Grimshaw and Arup won the Euston concept design job in 2012 but were replaced by WilkinsonEyre with WSP in February 2017. This means that HS2 services are planned to initially terminate at Old Oak Common until the Euston terminus is ready. “Old Oak Common station has nowhere near enough platforms to serve as the London terminus. In response, a HSRG spokesperson said: “Cancelling Euston would be the height of folly.

Civic magnetism also depends on creativity, glamour and tourist appeal, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins.

Moving the House of Commons to the city – even if just for the duration of a parliament – would not be the same, but it would be sensational. [desperately and now](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/24/britains-trains-tories-north-england-avanti) – as well as smarter leadership. The answer is not a government grant but smart shops, museums and concert halls, gentrified neighbourhoods and nightlife. They suck enterprise and creative talent from their surrounding hinterlands, but they in turn are sucked by the magnetism of even bigger cities, particularly capitals. Yet still [the east has trailed](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/11/06/east-germany-has-narrowed-economic-gap-with-west-germany-since-fall-of-communism-but-still-lags/). In 2020, [91% of western Germans](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/germany-east-west-gaps-persist-30-years-reunification) thought democracy is the “best suited form of government”, but only 78% of eastern Germans felt the same. [HS2](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/hs2) is only about London. [£70bn a year](https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/what-can-german-reunification-teach-the-uk-about-levelling-up/), was transferred into the east between 1990 and 2014. [Frauenkirche Lutheran church](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/31/arts.secondworldwar) restored at last from British bombing. Of the generosity there is no doubt. At this week’s Convention of the North conference, he [Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham), is a noble cause, but his past support for HS2 was a dreadful mistake.

Jeremy Hunt has insisted HS2 will go all the way to central London amid claims the controversial line will terminate outside the city.

"Now it may not even get to the centre of London. HS2 was originally planned to connect London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. "People will not use a high speed railway unless it goes from city centre to city centre. This conceivably could make HS2 travel 12 minutes longer than currently – providing of course the West Coast mailing is operating smoothly. The whole project is botched and it is time to call and end to it." He said if the line was going to terminate at Old Oak Common it would make "even more of a mockery of what high speed rail should be".