RAGE OF THE TRAIN

Manchester line faces chop, after east leg axed | 'North made to pay' for No10 costly chaos

- LIZZIE BUCHAN

ALREADY plagued by delays and crippling costs, HS2 was last night plunged into fresh turmoil amid fears it will not run all the way to Manchester.

And the Tories were accused of making the North pay for their blunders on the shambolic project, as No10 failed to quash speculation Rishi Sunak is to axe the stretch from Birmingham to Manchester.

It comes after the leg from Birmingham to Leeds was ditched, while cash continued to be lavished on the southern section, as experts warned HS2 could end up costing £106billion.

An official was photographed with documents showing the PM and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt held talks this week about cutting costs in the northern phase, despite already spending £2.3billion on it.

Asked if the PM was committed to the line going to Manchester, his official spokesman said: "I can't comment on the speculation that's a result of a photograph.

"We are looking at the rephasing of the work in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers.

"It is standard process for departments to discuss the phasing of major projects like HS2. We are committed to HS2”

Northern leaders pointed to the investment in the South, such as the 18.9billion Crossrail programme that became the Elizabeth Line, linking Reading and Heathrow Airport to Essex and South East London.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said axing the Birmingham to Manchester leg would leave the North with Victorian infrastructure” while the South enjoys modern rail lines. He added: "Levelling up? My a***. The Government is guilty of gross mismanagement of HS2 and of making the North pay for their failure.

"Once again, passengers here are seen as second-class citizens.

"The North-South divide is no accident. It's national policy."