The cancellation of Phase 2 of HS2 to Manchester could cost £100m and take three years to complete. Estimates by HS2 Ltd have emerged in the latest update report on the high speed line from the National Audit Office (NAO). The northern leg of HS2 was scrapped by Rishi Sunak last October.
The NAO report maintained that although there has been no major construction work so far, some enabling works, including investigative boreholes and utility diversions had started. HS2 Ltd has an obligation to maintain and then reinstate land to its original state.
The report also suggested that HS2 has spent £592m buying up land and around 1000 properties will no longer be needed. Disposing of the land and property, the report said, “will take several years and that the Department for Transport (DfT) is in the process of establishing a strategy to achieve value for money from the disposals.”
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Isabel White - 02/08/2024 14:35
How to add capacity to the West Coast mainline without spending a fortune? Simples! Reopen the Midland mainline between Matlock and Chapel en le Frith, route all freight and some slow moving passenger traffic to that route and leave the West Coast mainline for fast traffic. Cost - less than £100 million.
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