Fresh blow for shambolic HS2 train line as No10 hints Manchester leg could be SCRAPPED
THE shambolic HS2 train project is in fresh chaos today - after No10 hinted the Manchester leg could be scrapped.
Downing Street refused to guarantee the high speed trains will run to the North of England as planned - as Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are in talks about slashing it back.
Leaked documents showed ministers are considering shelving bits of it to save cash.
It was originally meant to go from London Euston to Birmingham, and on to Crewe, Manchester and other lines to Sheffield.
But the part to Leeds has already been dropped.
An announcement on its future could come in the upcoming Autumn Statement.
No10 sources insisted no decisions had yet been made.
But the PM's spokesperson would only say: "We are committed to HS2, to the project.
"I can't comment on the speculation that's a result of a photograph. We are as you know looking at the rephasing of the work in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers."
HS2 boss Mark Thurston resigned from the top job on the project in July.
Reports claimed the cash-strapped Chancellor could save as much as £34billion by ditching the additional parts of the line.
But investors and businesses were today up in arms about yet more uncertainty about the hugely pricy train line.
The Sun revealed earlier this year that it was due to be pushed back again - after spiralling costs forced ministers to pause the works.
And the future of the London Euston hub is also at risk.
Today's news that it might not go up to Manchester would be another blow to ministers' promises to level up the North of England.
Already services were not planned to extend to Manchester until the 2040s.
The opening date of 2026 has already been pushed back to 2033, with costs spiralling to more than £70billion.
Parts of the route have already been ditched.
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Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said today: “Any decision to curtail this project any further would do serious damage to the government’s relationship with the business community, both Northern-based businesses and inward investors, who have made long-term investment decisions based on previous promises.
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“Our country’s inability to deliver infrastructure, whether it’s hospitals or rail lines, is a huge problem for raising productivity long-term and our global reputation.
"The shadow Chancellor has already committed to treating to day to day spending differently to capital spending to support long-term economic growth - the government should do the same.”
