New HS2 chief gets £200K working two-day week

THE new chairman of HS2 is set to make £200,000 a year for working around two and a half days a week.

Sir Terry Morgan, 70, has been hired to oversee the UK’s biggest single construction project linking London with Birmingham and Manchester.

His salary is similar to that of outgoing chairman Sir David Higgins, 64 – who made £240,000 for two to three days a week. HS2’s budget is around £ 55.7bn, although some experts and campaigners believe it could spiral far beyond that. The trains are expected to begin operating in 2026.

During Sir David’s four-year tenure, HS2 had to scrap a key contract with US engineering group CH2M following allegations of a conflict of interest. The project has also been criticised over unauthorised redundancy payments.

Sir Terry will continue his work as chair of Crossrail, the underground line due to run through central London.