HS2: true cost of London-Birmingham line is more like £66bn, boss admits

Inflation means project £8bn-£10bn more expensive than 2019 estimate, MPs told

• Business live – latest updates

The estimated cost of the HS2 line from London to Birmingham has ballooned to as much as £66bn, the scheme’s executive chair has told MPs.

Jon Thompson told the transport select committee on Wednesday that the current estimate for the first phase of the line could add “between £8bn and £10bn” to the current top-end estimate of £56.6bn.