Cost of HS2 could pass £80bn as estimated bill jumps 15% in a year

Projected bill includes price of building HS2 station at Euston, with a budget of about £5bn

The bill for building the HS2 high-speed railway could pass £80bn at current prices, as estimated costs jumped by 15% since the last parliamentary report just over a year ago.

An update expected imminently from ministers will put the budget at building the line from London to Birmingham at between £54bn and £66bn, quoting figures supplied to the Department for Transportby HS2 Ltd.