Future rail travel in the North suffered another devastating blow tonight after the Government confirmed construction of HS2's link line to Manchester would be delayed by two years to cut costs.
Mark Harper, the transport secretary, blamed the decision to 'rephase construction' of the line to the North West from the West Midlands on 'significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs'. In a written ministerial statement, Mr Harper announced the Government would delay building the Birmingham to Crewe leg of the HS2 project - which would go on to connect to Manchester.
Labour in response said the decision meant the North was again having to 'pay the price' for Government failures.
