Rishi Sunak is finally expected to make a decision on the future of HS2 before his speech to the Tory party conference on Wednesday – with the second leg of the high-speed rail network north of Birmingham, and potentially the final miles in London from Old Oak Common to Euston, at risk.
The prime minister has said he wants to tackle HS2’s “out-of-control” costs – but billions of pounds already spent risk being wasted if the line is not completed. So what are the big numbers that might sway his decision one way or the other?
