Blundering ministers and HS2 chiefs are responsible for the soaring cost of the railway line and the delays to it being ready, a spending watchdog says.
The National Audit Office blasts the Government and HS2 Ltd over the scheme. Latest estimates suggest the final bill would be £106billion.
It was allocated £56billion in 2015, and was at first due to cost £32billion.
The high speed railway is set to run from London to Birmingham, then to Manchester and Leeds.
The NAO says: “[It] is over budget and behind schedule because the Department for Transport, HS2 Ltd and wider government have underestimated its complexity and risk.
"Significant challenges to completing the programme and delivering value for taxpayers and passengers remain.”
Phase one between London and Birmingham was due to open in 2026, but full services are now forecast to start between 2031 and 2036.
Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “Tory management of our railways has been disastrous and incompetent.
“The NAO report is a reminder of the woeful lack of political leadership High Speed Two has had under the Conservatives and a lack of honesty about rising costs.”
The DfT said: “We recognise there have been significant underestimations of the cost and schedule in the past which is why we commissioned the Oakervee review to provide advice on whether and how to proceed with HS2.” The probe by ex-HS2 boss Doug Oakervee was leaked this week, and warned the bill could be £106billion.
HS2 Ltd said a 2017 shake-up “identified the serious challenges of complexity and risk... and made significant improvements to the organisation, its governance and processes”.
