Chris Ames 06 January 2020

HS2 based on false prospectus, Berkeley claims

HS2 will cost at least £107bn to complete and its business case is based on unrealistic claims about how many trains could run on the new line, according to the former deputy chair of the Government’s review into the scheme.

Labour peer Lord Tony Berkeley, a long-term critic of the high speed rail scheme, claimed in November that he had been sidelined from the review led by former HS2 Ltd chair Doug Oakervee.

He has now published his own dissenting report ‘since I disagreed with some of the conclusions of the draft Review and was not given an opportunity to amend it’.

In his report, he claims that ‘of the options considered in the Review, the base case for completing HS2 Ltd. is estimated to cost £107bn at 2019 prices’.

His most serious criticism is that ‘even before taking into account the much higher scheme costs, the ratio of benefits to costs in the 2017 case is totally false, based as it is on more trains than any other high speed line can operate, on higher speeds, and on trains running full all day with high fare paying passengers than any other high speed line can operate’.

Lord Berkeley states that his best estimate is that the HS2 project has a benefit cost ratio of ‘less than 1, possibly as low 0.6 and therefore ranks as poor value for money when using the Treasury Green Book’.

An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: ‘There have been many individual views expressed about the HS2 project, however we await the publication of the Government’s official review.’

Read more on this story on Transport Network.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner