Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Delayed & Over Budget, High-Speed Rail Project Gets Underway in UK
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
September 5, 2020

Share

LONDON — Construction formally began Friday on Britain’s $140 billion high-speed railway project, aiming to forge better connections between cities for decades to come.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defended the HS2 project, which has its “shovels in the ground” moment just as the country is wondering whether the over-budget and often-delayed project offers good value at a time when the the COVID-19 pandemic has enshrined the idea of working from home.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defended the HS2 project, which has its “shovels in the ground” moment just as the country is wondering whether the over-budget and often-delayed project offers good value at a time when the the COVID-19 pandemic has enshrined the idea of working from home.

“We’re building this … for 150 years and still going strong,” he told the BBC. “So I think the idea that — unless we work out a way of tele-transporting people — we won’t want a system to get people around the country … is wrong.”

Rail travel has collapsed amid the pandemic, with commuters padding to their kitchen tables for teleworking rather than getting on a train. In the meantime, all revenue and cost risks from existing rail franchises were transferred to the U.K., Scottish and Welsh governments in March to ensure services stayed afloat — costing taxpayers at least $4.6 billion.

Construction on the new high-speed railway was given the final go-ahead by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in February, despite the project being chronically over budget. Work will begin with stations and tunnels, followed by the main viaducts and bridges.

“Transport connectivity is at the heart of the build back better, build back faster and build back greener recovery,” Johnson said as he attended the opening event.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Trump Order Threatens Federal Funds for Schools With COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

DON'T MISS

Fresno Leaders Celebrate Completion of Blackstone Hotel Conversion Project

DON'T MISS

Tulare Police Arrest Second Suspect in Fatal Gang-Related Shooting

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Hires Firm for National Superintendent Search

DON'T MISS

Poll: Where US Adults Think the Government Is Spending Too Much

DON'T MISS

Can You Help Nab Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed a Madera Woman?

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld Says Fresno County’s Use of DEI Language Is Over

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s Spay, Neuter Fees Rise, but It Doesn’t Mean You Have to Pay Full Price

DON'T MISS

How Much Rain Did Fresno Get? How Long Will It Continue?

DON'T MISS

Official White House ‘Valentine’ to Immigrants Draws Mixed Reaction

UP NEXT

Zelenskyy Says He Will Only Meet Putin After Common Plan With Trump Is Negotiated

UP NEXT

Middle East Latest: Palestinian Militants Name 3 Israeli Men to Be Freed in Next Hostage Release

UP NEXT

Trump Wants Denuclearization Talks With Russia and China, Hopes for Defense Spending Cuts

UP NEXT

USAID in Turmoil as Aid Programs Cut, Staff Stranded

UP NEXT

Belarus Releases 3 People, Including an American and a Jailed Journalist

UP NEXT

Pentagon’s New Media Rotation Program Boots NPR, NY Times, NBC News

UP NEXT

President Trump and Putin Have Agreed to Start Negotiations to End the Ukraine War

UP NEXT

Apple Changes Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on Maps

UP NEXT

Too Few Tents Entering Gaza Threatens the Truce. Here’s What’s Happening

UP NEXT

US Defense Chief Hegseth Calls NATO Membership for Ukraine Unrealistic

Fresno Unified Hires Firm for National Superintendent Search

14 hours ago

Poll: Where US Adults Think the Government Is Spending Too Much

15 hours ago

Can You Help Nab Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed a Madera Woman?

17 hours ago

Bredefeld Says Fresno County’s Use of DEI Language Is Over

17 hours ago

Fresno’s Spay, Neuter Fees Rise, but It Doesn’t Mean You Have to Pay Full Price

18 hours ago

How Much Rain Did Fresno Get? How Long Will It Continue?

18 hours ago

Official White House ‘Valentine’ to Immigrants Draws Mixed Reaction

20 hours ago

JuJu Watkins Lifts Sixth-Ranked USC to Program-Defining Win Over No. 1 UCLA

20 hours ago

Rodgers’ Stint With Jets Is Over. Here Are Potential Landing Spots if He Doesn’t Retire

20 hours ago

Curry Scores 27 Points to Lead Warriors to Win Over Rockets

20 hours ago

Trump Order Threatens Federal Funds for Schools With COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

WASHINGTON — Schools, colleges and states that require students to be immunized against COVID-19 may be at risk of losing federal money unde...

14 hours ago

President Donald Trump points to a reporter and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Ben Curtis)
14 hours ago

Trump Order Threatens Federal Funds for Schools With COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

14 hours ago

Fresno Leaders Celebrate Completion of Blackstone Hotel Conversion Project

14 hours ago

Tulare Police Arrest Second Suspect in Fatal Gang-Related Shooting

14 hours ago

Fresno Unified Hires Firm for National Superintendent Search

15 hours ago

Poll: Where US Adults Think the Government Is Spending Too Much

17 hours ago

Can You Help Nab Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed a Madera Woman?

17 hours ago

Bredefeld Says Fresno County’s Use of DEI Language Is Over

18 hours ago

Fresno’s Spay, Neuter Fees Rise, but It Doesn’t Mean You Have to Pay Full Price

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend