![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/HS2-construction-4958708.jpg?r=1694643888362\")
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The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are reportedly holding talks about axing the second phase of the severely delayed HS2 rail project, as costs spiral.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Documents seen by a national newspaper suggest that the government has already spent \u00a32.3bn on the northern stage of the high-speed railway. However, ditching the plan to connect Manchester and Birmingham –\u00a0 and the first stage of HS2, which united London and the West Midland,\u00a0\u00a0would save up to \u00a334bn.<\/p>\n
The cost estimates, which were reportedly discussed at a Number 10 meeting on Tuesday, apparently suggest that the\u00a0\u00a32.3bn already spent would not be recoverable even if the Northern link is scrapped.<\/p>\n
Read more… <\/strong> Fury as \u00a3100bn HS2 to become ‘the most expensive railway in world history’<\/strong><\/p>\n The reports come as Jeremy Hunt\u00a0faces growing pressure from Conservative MPs to offer tax cuts before the next election. Axing HS2 Phase 2 could give the\u00a0Chancellor some breathing space in his budget.<\/p>\n And, back in July, the Government’s own watchdog, the\u00a0Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) warned that “successful delivery” of\u00a0Phase 2\u00a0\u00a0\u201cappears to be unachievable.\u201d<\/p>\n An IPA’s annual report on major projects said of HS2 Phase 2: “There are major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and\/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable. The project may need re-scoping and\/or its overall viability reassessed.”<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n It would be a further blow to the HS2 project, which has already been\u00a0curtailed north of Birmingham.\u00a0\u00a0A planned eastern spur, which was going to go to Leeds, will now stop in the East Midlands.<\/p>\n On a meeting between Hunt and Rishi Sunak about HS2 – which was\u00a0referred to in\u00a0documents caught on camera by press photographers outside The Treasury – a\u00a0government spokesperson told The Independent: \u201cYou would expect No 10 and the Treasury to regularly discuss large infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n \u201cSpades are already in the ground on the HS2 programme, and we remain focused on delivering that.\u201d<\/p>\n However, in PMQs on Wednesday, Michael Fabricant -branding HS2 as\u00a0 “the most dysfunctional organisation I’ve ever had to deal with”\u00a0 called for the project to be halted at the end of Phase 1, in Lichfield, to prevent\u00a0disruption to people in other constituencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lichfield,\u00a0 at the northern end of Phase 1, would be the southern point of Phase 2a, which is planned to link the\u00a0West Midlands with Crewe in Cheshire. \u00a0<\/p>\n Sunak acknowledged the “frustration” HS2 was causing\u00a0Fabricant’s constituents in Lichfield and said he had been told HS2 Litd “is prioritising the completion of works underway to keep disruption to a minimum”. However, Sunak did not directly respond to Farbricant’s calls for the project to be halted at Phase 1, neither confirming nor denying that Phase 2 would go ahead.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The legislative bill for phase 2a of the project has already received royal assent in parliament.\u00a0The government’s legislation for phase 2b into Manchester is currently in the report stage.<\/p>\n And, last week,\u00a0Treasury Minister John Glen told the Commons the government remains \u201cfully committed to delivering HS2 and the integrated rail plan\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: “This is a long-term investment that will bring our biggest cities closer to each other. It will boost productivity, and will provide a low-carbon alternative to cars and planes for many decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Fabricant said: \u201cHS2 is a dysfunctional company unable to control its own budget. Its design is already out of date. Lichfield and other areas have already suffered economic damage as roads are closed and businesses are disrupted.<\/p>\n \u201cThis nonsense can\u2019t be allowed to continue. The costs to our nation are way too high. It\u2019s time to call an end to this failed project. It should end with phase one.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4958711.jpg?r=1694643888424\")
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