 The government 'does not know what it is trying to achieve' with Euston Station, MPs have warned, as work to connect HS2 is paused. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is calling for the Department for Transport (DfT) to 'finally establish' its expectations for the station, as plans for HS2 at Euston have been in the making for eight years. HS2 Ltd, a government-owned company, first proposed an 11-platform design for Euston in 2015, built in two phases. Following a review in 2020 these plans were changed to a 10-platform, single-stage design to try and make it simpler and cheaper. In March it was announced work at Euston would be paused for two years, as the cost of the works had increased from its initial budget of £2.6 billion to £4.8 billion. During this time, the DfT says it will reassess the project, deciding the minimum requirements for the project and what should be prioritised. The PAC report said: 'Despite spending over eight years on planning and designing the HS2 Euston station, the department still does not know what it is trying to achieve with the station.' Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier added: 'The HS2 Euston project is floundering. This is a multibillion-pound scheme – which has already caused major disruption to the local community – put on pause. The ongoing construction work has caused disruption to local businesses (Picture: EPA) The DfT says it needs to reassess the project (Picture: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) 'The pause, ostensibly to save money, is not cost free. Mothballing and possible compensation for businesses which have lost work will all need to be added to the HS2 tally. 'The government must now be clear what it is trying to achieve with this new station, and how it will benefit the public. 'Our report finds a wildly unrealistic budget for HS2 Euston was set in 2020 in the expectation that it would be revised. 'The government must demonstrate it is not just){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
The government ‘does not know what it is trying to achieve’ with Euston Station, MPs have warned, as work to connect HS2 is paused.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is calling for the Department for Transport (DfT) to ‘finally establish’ its expectations for the station, as plans for HS2 at Euston have been in the making for eight years.
HS2 Ltd, a government-owned company, first proposed an 11-platform design for Euston in 2015, built in two phases.
Following a review in 2020 these plans were changed to a 10-platform, single-stage design to try and make it simpler and cheaper.