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HS2 roundup

HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins is addressing a meeting at the Institute of Directors on 21 March in a bid to convert the 73% of the IOD membership who said back in August that the project was a waste of money. Higgins’ report on how to reduce the cost of the £42.6bn scheme is due at the end of the month.

HS2 unveiled the masterplan to transform Birmingham at the new railway’s Curzon Street Station. Included will be a metro extension and a park on top of a viaduct. It will be one of the biggest regeneration schemes in Britain and will transform 141 hectares of the city.

HS2 boss David Higgins told the Daily Telegraph that building HS2 is essential for the survival of Britain’s rail network painting a picture of passengers queuing to get on main line trains as they do for packed rush hour Tubes. And he said costs could be cut by starting construction in the north and south at the same time.