Ministers to supervise construct as prices ‘spiral’ | EUROtoday

Ministers are to take take a direct function in overseeing the constructing of the HS2 rail line to attempt to “get a grip” on the rising price of the excessive pace route between London and Birmingham.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh stated it had lengthy been clear that the price of HS2, which may attain £65bn, had been allowed to “spiral out of control”.

She stated she had now seen “up close” the “scale of failure”, which she described as “dire”.

“I have promised to work fast and fix things and that’s exactly why I have announced urgent measures to get a grip on HS2’s costs and ensure taxpayers’ money is put to good use,” Haigh stated.

The authorities additionally confirmed it is not going to reinstate earlier plans to run the high-speed line to Crewe and Manchester, which have been scrapped underneath the earlier Conservative authorities.

A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd stated: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s priorities for HS2 Ltd and are dedicated to working with the brand new Government to enhance supply.”

Adding: “HS2 Ltd recognises that there are a lot of classes to be discovered from supply thus far and, underneath new management, are actively implementing the modifications inside our management to stablise prices.”

A new independent review of the project has also been commissioned.

The government confirmed it has commissioned the review which will be carried our by a former Chief Executive of Crossrail, James Stewart.

HS2 Ltd said that it looks forward to the “suggestions” of Mr Stewart.

In January, the boss of HS2 Ltd estimated that the full price of HS2 may rise, saying a hike in the price of supplies resembling concrete and metal have added £8bn to £10bn to the challenge’s funds.