Andrew Clarke <andrewclarke437@gmail.com> wrote:
> From the online Telegraph:
>
> "Boris Johnson is considering plans to put the southern half of High
> Speed 2 on ice amid mounting concerns about the costs of the scheme.
>
> The Tory leadership contender, who is expected to enter Downing Street on
> Wednesday, has been studying proposals to begin building the railway line
> in the North, rather than London, as part of a set of policy changes
> designed to demonstrate a focus on "left behind" regions and towns.
>
> The plans, discussed as part of his team's "transition" work in readiness
> for taking office, would involve pushing back construction of the
> southern half of the line, between London and Birmingham, and giving the
> green light to the phase connecting the West Midlands with Leeds and Manchester.
>
> This week he is expected to make a major speech in the North, which is
> likely to feature a commitment to boosting local transport connections,
> including east-west rail links under the Northern Powerhouse project.
>
> The disclosure comes after it emerged that Allan Cook, the chairman of
> HS2 Ltd, the government-owned firm behind the scheme, has warned Chris
> Grayling, the Transport Secretary, that the project cannot be completed
> within the official £56 billion budget."
>
> Andrew Clarke
> Canberra
>