HS2 make or break decision looms

Transport secretary Grant Shapps says a ‘go or no-go’ decision will be made about HS2 by the end of the year. The DfT said a review will ‘consider whether and how the project should proceed’, and will take into account the benefits, cost and practicality of building lines between London, Birmingham and the North of England. Midland Connect has warned that scrapping the scheme would be a ‘disaster’ for the region, while the TSSA union says the government is ‘on the wrong track’. The review will be carried out by former HS2 chairman Douglas Oakervee, with Lord Berkeley as his deputy. The terms of reference will be to consider the benefits and impacts of the scheme, whether it is affordable and would be efficient, whether it can be carried out and if the scope is still appropriate, and finally the timing of the phases and how they would fit in with the related projects of Northern Powerhouse Rail.