A VANITY PROJECT THAT HAS COMPLETELY DERAILED

AUGUST is always a flat month for us journos because there is so little news.

For one project that is very good news. The ghastly HS2 has been out of sight and out of the public mind for months. Now it is back.

A new analytical survey has calculated that this white elephant and vanity project could now sustain cost overruns to bring its total cost before a single train ever rolls on it to £80billion or even more.

Given the scores of urgent needs upon the available public purse – NHS, Armed Forces, pot-holed roads etc – it is insane to go on smashing up the north-east quadrant of London for the marshalling yards and terminus, devastating the Chilterns and driving an unnecessary second London-Birmingham line through some of the loveliest rural landscape in England.

The “shorter travel time” argument has been discredited and replaced by “we need more capacity” – (we don’t). The existing rail line could be upgraded for a fraction of £80billion. Only a few fanatics and those liable to make a personal fortune still support it.

But the Transport Ministry is like a constipated donkey on the issue.

Theresa May needs popularity – fast. Knocking this dinosaur on the head – a single letter to Chris Grayling would do the trick – would make her a heroine.

She seems determined to consign every opportunity that comes her way to the trash can.