Sunday Express

Indiana Jones and the bloated HS2 rail project

- By David Williamson

MORE than 1,000 experts will be needed to complete the HS2 train project if it goes ahead, Transport Minister Paul Maynard has revealed.

A huge team of specialist­s will be tasked with “the biggest dig in British history” in looking to preserve hidden Roman remains and other historic sites before the rail link between London and the North can progress.

Mr Maynard said: “HS2 Ltd estimates that over 1,000 archaeolog­ists, period specialist­s, scientists and conservato­rs will be needed to deliver the HS2 archaeolog­y programme.”

Helen Wass, HS2’S head of heritage, said: “HS2’S archaeolog­y programme, the biggest dig in British history, is allowing us to understand more about our history and heritage as we build Britain’s new high-speed railway.”

But opponents of the multibilli­onpound high-speed train network have sited the threat to heritage while calling for the whole project to be “consigned to the history books”because of its vast costs and disruption it will cause.

Even a senior Government minister said: “We have got to kick this in the head.”

The chances of HS2 becoming reality were dealt a major blow earlier this year when the project’s chairman warned he did not believe the current design could be delivered within the £55.7billion budget. Instead the cost for the controvers­ial project could hit £88billion or more even in today’s prices.

There was more bad news when the expected start date for services between London and Birmingham was pushed back from 2026 to between 2028 and 2031, with the route to Manchester and Leeds not expected to open until between 2035 and 2040.

The future of HS2 now hangs in the balance, with an independen­t review chaired by civil engineer Douglas Oakervee due to report soon on whether to proceed.

The route to Leeds and Sheffield could be axed with train speeds cut by 40mph in an effort to make savings of more than £10billion.

Conservati­ve MP Andrew Bridgen, a prominent opponent of the proposed new line, said it was “time for the whole HS2 project to be consigned to the history books”.

 ??  ?? AERODYNAMI­C: HS2 train design
AERODYNAMI­C: HS2 train design

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