The HS2 project is the first major railway north of London for 150 years. It was launched in 2009 by the earlier Labour government.
Originally, the train line was supposed to link London with Birmingham, and then travel further north to Manchester and Leeds. However, as per reports, Sunak may announce the scrapping of the north leg — from West Midlands to Manchester.
Talking to BBC, Defence Minister Grant Shapps all but confirmed the scrapping. He also said that alternative routes will be announced, which would ‘still be a much faster journey time’ to Manchester.
The project’s cost almost trebled to more than an estimated £100 billion ($121 billion) from £37.5 billion in 2013. However, recent estimates put the cost at £396 million per mile for its total length of 134 miles (215 kilometres), making it one of the world’s most expensive lines.
Environmentalists contend that the project will destroy much of the wildlife in the English countryside.
Construction started in 2020, and the first trains are due to travel in 2029.