The government will save £14bn by axing the eastern leg of HS2 and downgrading plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, according to research by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
The partnership, which represents businesses and civic leaders, found that the Treasury is set to save £10.3bn by shelving plans for the full phase 2b eastern leg, which was due to link the West Midlands and Leeds. Diluting plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail will save £4bn.
Critics described the move as a “betrayal of the North”.
