MPs to quiz HS2 boss about spiralling cost of rail project

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd, has been called to give evidence at a Transport Select Committee hearing.

Clive Maxwell, the Government’s Director General of High Speed Rail Group, Rebecca Pullinger, from The Woodland Trust, and Rachel Giles, from Cheshire Wildlife Trust, will also take questions at the hearing.

According to the committee, the first half of the hearing will examine the environmental impact, look at what action is being taken to protect areas of ancient woodland and explore HS2 Ltd’s claims that the high-speed rail line will help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

Mr Thurston will then be asked about a range of issues, including the construction progress, supply chain issues and the mounting cost, which is believed to be between £72bn and £98bn, the committee added.

Under the current plans, HS2 services will begin running between London and the West Midlands by 2033 and then start operating on the West Midlands to Crewe branch the following year.

The Crewe to Manchester branch is due to open in 2041.

It comes after Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove suggested capital investment for HS2 will be reviewed, as he warned the Government has to make “painful” decisions to plug a gaping black hole in the nation’s finances.

Earlier this year, the Government scrapped the £3bn Golborne Link, which was due to run between Cheshire and Greater Manchester, to save money.

And in November last year, it announced the Eastern Leg would be cut short and not reach Yorkshire.

According to the plan, it will stop at East Midlands Parkway, but trains will then run on an existing line to Sheffield and £100m will be spent on a study that will “look at the most effective way to run HS2 trains to Leeds”.

It also said some of the funding would also be used to find “the most optimal solution” for capacity issues at Leeds Station and begin work on the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System.

The Department of Transport has still not revealed when that study will be launched.