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Oakervee Review: HS2 costs 'got carried away', says review author | Oakervee Review: HS2 costs 'got carried away', says review author |
(32 minutes later) | |
HS2 costs got "carried away", says the author of the government's official review into the project. | HS2 costs got "carried away", says the author of the government's official review into the project. |
But Douglas Oakervee, also a former HS2 chairman, said the line was still "much needed". | But Douglas Oakervee, also a former HS2 chairman, said the line was still "much needed". |
It comes after Boris Johnson gave the route the go-ahead but said it was a "controversial and difficult decision". | It comes after Boris Johnson gave the route the go-ahead but said it was a "controversial and difficult decision". |
Speaking publicly for the first time since the decision, Mr Oakervee said he welcomed steps for "proper governance" of the scheme. | Speaking publicly for the first time since the decision, Mr Oakervee said he welcomed steps for "proper governance" of the scheme. |
He said there had been an "issue" with multiple chairmen and secretaries of state being involved in HS2 since its inception. | |
"And they have always retained the 2015 prices which I don't think is particularly right, I think they ought to be updated all the time so both the public and Parliament are fully aware of what those prices are," he said. | |
HS2 is set to link London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds and it is hoped it will cut down passenger overcrowding and help rebalance the UK's economy. | |
It was first signed off by MPs in 2017, but has faced strong opposition. | It was first signed off by MPs in 2017, but has faced strong opposition. |
It has been revealed the project could cost more than £100bn - twice its 2015 budget - and could be up to five years behind schedule. | |
Despite that, the Oakervee Review strongly advised against cancelling HS2, saying it would benefit the transport system and there was no "shovel-ready" alternative upgrade for the existing railways. | Despite that, the Oakervee Review strongly advised against cancelling HS2, saying it would benefit the transport system and there was no "shovel-ready" alternative upgrade for the existing railways. |
It recommended tighter controls on costs and better management. | It recommended tighter controls on costs and better management. |
On Wednesday, Mr Oakervee said the rail line "should have been done in a much more practical way". | On Wednesday, Mr Oakervee said the rail line "should have been done in a much more practical way". |
He said the "dream" project had been allowed to continue without necessarily "working within a fixed budget." | He said the "dream" project had been allowed to continue without necessarily "working within a fixed budget." |
In an interview with BBC Midlands Today, he suggested using the private sector to develop new HS2 stations in a bid to cut costs. | In an interview with BBC Midlands Today, he suggested using the private sector to develop new HS2 stations in a bid to cut costs. |
"I think Curzon Street would benefit from a lot of private sector involvement, rather than building a station that will win many architectural prizes, at what cost," he said. | "I think Curzon Street would benefit from a lot of private sector involvement, rather than building a station that will win many architectural prizes, at what cost," he said. |
He also said China's state railway CCRC had been "bold" in suggesting it could build the line in just five years and at a much lower cost, as the country operated very "different" legislation to the UK. | He also said China's state railway CCRC had been "bold" in suggesting it could build the line in just five years and at a much lower cost, as the country operated very "different" legislation to the UK. |
The Department for Transport has been contacted for comment. | |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |