HS2 Birmingham to London route criticised in House of Lords

Computer generated image of HS2 Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct

The case for the HS2 high-speed rail line has come under fire in the House of Lords.

Peers criticised the project, the first phase of which will run from London to Birmingham from 2026.

Opening a debate, Lord Hollick said: "Much of the evidence presented to justify HS2 is either defective or unconvincing or out of date."

HS2 promises to reduce journey times between Birmingham and London from 81 minutes to 49 minutes.

'More clarity'

Businessman Lord Hollick, a Labour peer and chairman of the House's Economic Affairs Committee, said: "We have a £56.6 billion project requiring £36 billion of public subsidy, on which no return is expected, that has failed to be independently and objectively assessed."

Labour former minister Baroness Blackstone said the arguments for HS2 were neither "clear or robust".

"Of course there is a case for it, but much more clarity is needed," she said.