Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander tells MPs that the HS2 rail project faces a major increase in both time and cost. In statements to the House of Commons, she says the programme could cost more than £100 billion and that opening is not expected until 2039. Alexander also criticises the rise in the expected delivery timetable and spending, describing the change in time and costs as “obscene” and expressing anger about the updated figures.
The reporting focuses on the minister’s message that the revised estimates represent a significant departure from earlier expectations for when sections of HS2 would be delivered and how much the scheme would cost. The articles present the cost and schedule outlook as a formal government position conveyed during parliamentary scrutiny of transport policy and spending. While the outlets differ in emphasis, both cite the same core claims from the minister: higher projected costs, a later opening date, and strong language used in Parliament to characterise the updated performance figures.
