HS2 does not have an outlined plan for how it will function once completed, according to a review of the government’s approach to the project by parliament's spending watchdog.
After cancelling the northern leg of the £67 billion high-speed railway, it is believed the government faces “urgent unanswered questions” over the purpose of the project, the House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said.
MPs also remain “highly sceptical” about the feasibility of securing private investment for the final stretch into London Euston station and warned of potential increased costs if work is delayed.
With only the London to Birmingham line remaining, MPs dubbed HS2 “very poor value for money” with the costs of the project expected to outweigh any of its benefits.
The report follows October’s decision by the government to cancel the line's extension to Manchester, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promising to replace it with a £36 billion investment in alternative transport initiatives.
However, unanswered questions remain regarding the project's future operations and the impacts on related rail projects.
Additionally, enquiries have been made as to what will happen with the land which was acquired for the route from Birmingham to Manchester.
“Crucially, the Department [for Transport] does not yet understand how HS2 will operate as a functioning railway following recent changes,” the report said.
Meg Hillier, chair of the committee, said: “The decision to cancel HS2’s northern leg was a watershed moment that raises urgent and unanswered questions, laid out in our report.
“What happens now to the phase two land, some of which has been compulsorily purchased? Can we seriously be actively working towards a situation where our high-speed trains are forced to run slower than existing ones when they hit older track?”