Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed the conclusions of two critical reports about HS2, telling MPs there was ‘clear evidence’ of poor management. She has also confirmed that the line will not open in 2033.

She said cancelled sections will not be reinstated, but the remaining route between London and Birmingham will be completed, although there will be less ‘financial delegation’ to HS2 Ltd.

She told the House of Commons that Mike Brown will be taking over as HS2 Ltd Chair, working alongside CEO Mark Wild.

She said: ‘This must be a line in the sand. This Government is delivering HS2 from Birmingham to London after years of mismanagement, flawed reporting and ineffective oversight.

‘Mark Wild and Mike Brown were part of the team, with me, that turned Crossrail into the Elizabeth Line - we have done it before, we will do it again.

‘Passengers and taxpayers deserve new railways the country can be proud of, and the work to get HS2 back on track is firmly underway.’

‘We are wasting no time in delivering on this review [by James Stewart]. This level of failure cannot stand. We will learn the lessons of the last 15 years and restore our reputation of delivering world-class infrastructure projects.

She said the second review, by HS2 chief executive Mark Wild, laid bare the 'shocking mismanagement of the project’.

She continued that Mark Wild had stated 'in no uncertain terms [that] the overall project in respect of cost, schedule and scope is unsustainable.

‘Based on his advice, I see no route by which trains can be running by 2033 as planned.

‘He reveals costs will continue to increase if not taken in hand, further outstripping the budget set by the previous government. And he cannot be certain that all cost pressures have yet been identified.

'Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money have been wasted by constant scope changes, ineffective contracts and bad management. There have also been allegations that parts of the supply chain have been defrauding taxpayers, and I have been clear that these need to be investigated rapidly and rigorously.

‘If fraud is proven, the consequences will be felt by all involved.

‘I have to be honest. It’s an appalling mess, but it’s one we will sort out. We need to set targets which we can confidently deliver, that the public can trust, and that will take time.

‘But rest assured: where there are inefficiencies, we will root them out. If further ministerial interventions are needed, I will make them without fear or favour. 

‘HS2 will finally start delivering on our watch.’

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