Manchester's planned links to a new high-speed rail network are set to be delayed in a bid to curb rising costs, it has been reported, with ministers set to make an official statement today.
The planned high-speed line between Crewe and Manchester is understood to be affected, with the Birmingham and Crewe route also set to be delayed. It comes after Northern Powerhouse and rail bosses said they had 'confidence' the Manchester line would go ahead just last week.
The widely anticipated network is aiming to transform rail connections between the north and south of the country, but the government says it will be hit by further delays after the cost of the project has ballooned since its inception. In 2010, the project was estimated to cost around £33bn, but current estimates suggest the figure is closer to £71bn.
