Ministers to oversee 'dire' HS2 as cost still uncertain

Ministers are to oversee HS2 and have launched a review after the government was unable to ascertain the scale of the ballooning overspend on the long-delayed high-speed rail line.

- Mark Sweney

Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, said the scale of failure in the delivery of the project was "dire" and analysis had been unable to clarify if the cost overrun was £10bn or £20bn.

"It has long been clear that the costs of HS2 have been allowed to spiral out of control," said Haigh. "But since becoming transport secretary I have seen up close the scale of failure in project delivery - and it's dire." Haigh, who confirmed that the government will not be resurrecting the phase 2 plan to extend the line to Manchester, said ministerial oversight was being reinstated to "ensure greater accountability".

This will mean regular meetings with HS2 and Haigh, the rail minister Peter Hendy and Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, to "challenge delivery and remove obstacles" to deliver the project more cost-effectively.