Get HS2 costs on track

MINISTERS will oversee the building of the HS2 rail line, the Government has announced as it attempts to get hold of soaring costs for the project.

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Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has also ordered an independent review of Phase One, as she aims to get a “grip” on the bill for the line between Birmingham and London.

The Government said that “poor project management, inflation and poor performance from the chain” had caused costs to “spiral out of control”.

There have been warnings that overall spend could be more than £65 billion. She said yesterday morning that she, along with Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, would be holding regular meetings on the progress of the project and its costs.

It will publish reports on HS2 every six months to “ensure complete accountability and transparency”.