25/03/2015

Economic Affairs Committee Claim Govt Case For HS2 'Still To Be Proven'

The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has said that the government has "no convincing case for the spending £50bn on the HS2 rail link".

The committee said that the government's main argument's of increased rail capacity and rebalancing of the economy, were "still to be proven".

"The Government have not carried out a proper assessment of whether alternative ways of increasing capacity are more cost-effective than HS2," Lord Hollick, chairman of the Lords' committee

"In terms of rebalancing, London is likely to be the main beneficiary from HS2. Investment in improving rail links in the North of England might deliver much greater economic benefit at a fraction of the cost."

The committee has produced a series of questions for the Department of Transport, which it has urged them to address.

(MH/IT)

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