{"id":1213606,"date":"2023-09-15T14:23:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T14:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1669655"},"modified":"2023-09-15T14:23:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T14:23:49","slug":"hs2-legacy-left-in-tatters-as-the-government-considers-scrapping-its-northern-leg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/09\/15\/hs2-legacy-left-in-tatters-as-the-government-considers-scrapping-its-northern-leg\/","title":{"rendered":"HS2 legacy left in tatters as the government considers scrapping its northern leg"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The government is reportedly discussing scrapping phase two of HS2<\/a>, which would connect Birmingham to Manchester. However, work already started on phase one of the rail line, which connects London to Birmingham. As a result, one of the country’s most expensive public projects will benefit the south and forego the north.<\/p>\n

Billions wasted<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Independent<\/em> revealed<\/a> on 14 September that prime minister Rishi Sunak and chancellor Jeremy Hunt have discussed scrapping HS2’s second stage. Phase two would connect<\/a> Birmingham to Manchester. The government has already spent \u00a32.3bn on pre-construction work for phase two. However, the\u00a0Independent<\/em> reported<\/a> that this money is now ” not recoverable even if it is cancelled”.<\/p>\n

Scrapping further work on HS2 phase two will save up to \u00a334bn, the government estimated. However, Royal Assent was given<\/a> to part one of phase 2a – between Birmingham and Crewe – in February 2021<\/a>. That will make it “hard to cancel it outright”, according to the Independent.<\/em><\/p>\n

HS2 is <\/span>supposedly<\/a> the largest infrastructure project in Europe. In 2010, the <\/span>proposed costs<\/a> for HS2 were between \u00a330.9bn and \u00a336bn. By 2019, an independent review <\/span>estimated<\/a> the project would cost \u00a3106.4bn. Then, in October 2022, another estimate <\/span>placed<\/a> the final cost at more than \u00a3150bn, accounting for inflation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amid ballooning costs, the project has also faced setbacks and changes including scrapping the line to Leeds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prising wide the North\/South divide<\/h2>\n

News that the government could scrap phase two led to outrage amongst political figures and the public in the North of England. Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said<\/a> the news showed the government saw northern passengers as “second-class citizens”, adding:<\/p>\n

The result? The southern half of England gets a modern rail system and the North left with Victorian infrastructure. Levelling up? My arse.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some people on social media echoed the sentiment that it reinforces problems of the traditional North\/South divide:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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There was a reason why some people said #HS2<\/a> construction should start in the north and head southwards\u2026 \"\ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\" https:\/\/t.co\/dcd0ivY9Gf<\/a><\/p>\n

— Iain Docherty (@iaindocherty) September 14, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n