PAC calls on government to clarify HS2 timetable

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the government move quickly to set out a realistic timetable for delivering HS2.

A report on the forthcoming high speed rail line recommends that the Department for Transport (DfT) should confirm this autumn whether phase 1, between London Euston and the West Midlands, will open in 2026 or 2027.

It also raises concerns over the ‘significant uncertainty’ remaining about phase 2 and said the impact of proposed route changes and the location of stations in South Yorkshire on passengers, local communities, growth and regeneration is not clear.

The PAC has urged the DfT to explain the basis for its final decision on the route as part of its phase 2b announcement.

Meg Hillier, chair of the PAC, said: "The government has promised significant benefits to taxpayers in return for their investment in HS2, expected to run to more than £55 billion.

“Despite this, Parliament and the public are still in the dark about crucial details – not least when the railway will open, how much it is expected to cost and precisely where it will go.

Hillier added: “Lack of clarity over plans for HS2 in South Yorkshire highlights what is at stake for communities and local economies, and why government must explain its intentions and the basis for its decisions in a transparent manner.

“The public must be confident the grand vision for HS2 does not blind the government to the finer points which have implications for many people’s lives now and in the decades to come.

“Similarly, local authorities must know central government’s intentions to ensure they can plan effectively for regeneration and maximise the potential for growth near HS2 stations.”