Sunak vows to build HS2 Euston station

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has said HS2 will definitely go to Euston in central London.

The prime minister’s comments contradicted levelling up secretary Michael Gove, who said over the weekend: “There is a debate on whether [HS2’s London terminus] will be Old Oak Common or Euston.”

At the House of Commons Liaison Committee on Tuesday (28 March), Sunak faced questions from MPs where he insisted that there was nothing “ambiguous” about the final termination point for HS2.

The prime minister did, however, defend plans to “rephase” work on the central London station – which has been delayed by at least two years to coincide with the opening of HS2 phase 2b, which will run from Crewe to Manchester.

He said: “The aim is to deliver that station alongside the rollout to Manchester and to take the time now to get the right deliverability for that particular section.

“I think it’s important that we get the big infrastructure projects right, that we do them properly. They cost a lot of money. It’s reasonable that we make sure they’re going to be done on budget.

“We’re taking the time to make sure it can be delivered within budget and, given inflationary pressures, it’s important we get that right.”

The government has spent £458m of public money so far on its plans for Euston station, where early construction work only started in January. The anticipated cost for the project has now reached £4.8bn – £2.2bn more than originally anticipated.

“We’re focusing on this bit of it from Old Oak Common to Euston, let’s not forget Old Oak Common to Birmingham, that is a £20bn investment phase one that is in full flow,” Sunak said.