HS2 will reach central London, insists Jeremy Hunt

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Commenting on the report, Mr Hunt pointed to the fact that it prioritized HS2 as one of its flagship projects as part of its fall statement. This followed mounting pressure from Conservative Party members to scrap the plan.

Describing the scheme as a void project, Esther McPhee refused to support tax increases last October unless the government reversed them.

Reports of a rethink of course come as the project is under increasing cost pressure, with inflation hitting construction hard.

Last year, the Financial Times reported on an internal letter from John Thompson, vice-chairman of HS2, who said it was “very unlikely” that £40.3bn would be hit for the first leg of the line between London and Birmingham.

Speaking to the Telegraph earlier this month, Hugh Merriman, the railways minister, acknowledged inflationary pressures but said there was no “blank check” and expected HS2 to implement the scheme within budget.

Currently, HS2 is planned to travel from two stations in London, one in Euston and the other a new station in Old Oak Common, West London.

As The Sun reports, ministers are considering winding down all HS2 lines to Old Oak Common, as commuters are expected to sail there and use London transport to get to the city centre.

The cost of the HS2 has come under more scrutiny after the price has fluctuated in recent years. In 2019, the estimated cost of the line increased from £55.7 billion to between £72 billion and £98 billion.

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