Proactive Investors - HS2 will not now go further than Birmingham Rishi Sunak confirmed today, instead the £36 billion saved will be spent on rail and road upgrades between the West Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool
Unveiling the decision at the Tory party conference, the PM said that things had changed and that “every penny saved” would be spent on new transport projects.
“Every region outside of London will receive the same or more government investment than they would have done under HS2, with quicker results," Sunak said.
London does get something, the PM committed to the line finishing at the Euston terminus but under new management there.
“There must be some accountability for the mistakes made, for the mismanagement of this project," he said.
"We will instead create a new Euston development zone."
Sunak committed to the £12bn West Coast rail upgrade, though this won’t be a speed link and also called on the West Midlands mayor Andy Street to help devise plans for a regional Metro network.
Other pledges included building the Leeds tram, electrifying the North Wales main line and upgrades to the A1, the A2, the A5 trunk roads and the M6.
"I challenge anyone to tell me with a straight face that all of that isn’t what the North really needs,"
--reaction to follow --