‘Outside reality’ to not reconsider HS2 rail line after pandemic, says Shapps

Grant Shapps, the UK transport secretary, said any government that does not look again at its transport plans after the Covid-19 pandemic ‘is acting outside the reality of the situation’, when asked about signs Rishi Sunak may be ready to scrap the northern section of the HS2 high-speed rail line before the Conservative conference opens in Manchester next weekend.

When questioned on whether the government was considering revising plans for HS2 to run from Euston to Manchester, Shapps told Trevor Phillips on Sky News that the prime minister ‘is prepared to take these difficult long-term decisions [that are] not always popular’
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