HS2: Stephenson given new rail hyperlink position

Andrew Stephenson has been appointed minister for HS2 – the high-speed rail hyperlink connecting London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.

He was already the rail minister with duty for the Transpennine and Northern Powerhouse Rail routes.

Earlier this month Boris Johnson mentioned he would appoint a minister to “restore self-discipline” to HS2.

It has come beneath hearth over spiralling prices, however supporters say it’s going to rebalance the economic system.

The prime minister gave the undertaking the go-ahead final week however acknowledged it had been “a controversial and tough determination”.

Labour helps HS2 however has criticised an “abject failure of successive Conservative governments to maintain on high of the prices”.

The price of the programme set out within the 2015 Funds was just below £56bn, however one impartial estimate places it as excessive as £106bn.