Transport Secretary Justine Greening was today urged to order an independent review of the high speed rail link to the North after new figures suggested the scheme would struggle to break even.
Opponents seized on updated analysis that revises down the economic benefits of the £33 billion HS2 project, due to link Euston to Birmingham by 2026, cutting journey times by 30 minutes.
Originally it was forecast to bring £2.40 of benefit for every pound invested, but that has now been reduced to £1.20.
Conservative MP Chris White said the latest figures were “very worrying” and demanded outside experts re-evaluate the scheme.
“It really is time to have a full and independent report on the value of this project,” he said.
A Department for Transport spokesman said the benefit-cost ratio was only one part of the decision-making process, arguing that the benefits “reach well beyond transport economics”.
