Faults found in HS2 ’s first ‘green tunnel’ could add millions more to the bill.
Construction has been halted as tests are carried out amid fears it may have to be destroyed, says trade mag Construction Enquirer.
The tunnel, near Chipping Warden, Northants, is the first of five ordered for the high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham.
The shallow tunnels are dubbed ‘green tunnels’ as they are meant to blend into the landscape.
They are made by digging a cutting, lining it with concrete, which is then covered in earth and planted with trees and shrubs.
But problems have emerged in some of the 5,000 pre-cast concrete segments which are made at a factory in Derbyshire and assembled on site.
HS2’s costs have increased from £55.7billion in 2015, already the most expensive high-speed rail line in history, to £98billion in 2019 – though this figure does not take into account the decision last year to scrap the Pennine stretch from Manchester to Leeds.
Last night Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, a long-standing critic, said: “The white elephant just gets bigger, gorging on taxpayers’ money. It’s completely consistent with how HS2 has been managed the whole way through – it’s a gravy train for those who work at it.”
Leicestershire MP Mr Bridgen, who has voted against the line nine times, added: “How can we say to people that we can’t afford to give pensioners money to heat their homes when we can afford a pet project like HS2?”
HS2 said: “We have recently identified quality issues with some of the segments and we are currently conducting tests to determine whether remedial work is needed.
“No decision has been made yet and we are actively engaging with our supply chain partners to resolve the problem.”
