HS2: Sir David Higgins calls for early completion

Building work on the northern section of the £50bn high-speed HS2 rail project should be accelerated, HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins has said.

In his new report for the government, called HS2 Plus, he says the initial part of the project should run from London to Crewe by 2027, instead of merely reaching Birmingham by 2026.

Sir David said building a new hub at Crewe was "the right strategic answer".

The second phase of HS2 could then be completed by 2030 instead of 2033.

Hugh Pym reports.