High Speed 2
With Boris Johnson in No 10 we await clarification of the new Prime Minister’s position. Will he back High Speed 2? In full? In part? At all? HS2 Ltd Chair Allan Cook is undertaking an internal review of the project. In addition to this, rail veteran Doug Oakervee, a former HS2 chair and one time Crossrail executive chairman who was instrumental in development of the parliamentary bill that legislated for the new cross-London railway, has been tasked by Mr Johnson to undertake a six-week review of the project with a focus on identifying any areas of waste or opportunities to re-profile the scheme to save money.
Andrew Gilligan, another of Mr Johnson’s contacts from his time as London Mayor, has also been asked to advise on High Speed 2. Mr Gilligan has frequently voiced his opposition to the project in contributions to The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Someone less in thrall to mega projects it would be difficult to find – which is perhaps what Mr Johnson needs, as he seeks to identify a clear way forward.
Amid all the nervousness created by new government reviews, a looming comprehensive spending review and the decision due in December on whether or not to issue the formal ‘notice to pr…
