The Government has given the formal green light for HS2 to start construction. Ministers said the decision to proceed with the costly rail link could not be delayed any longer, despite the coronavirus crisis.
Project chiefs said it would give "an immediate boost to the construction industry - and the many millions of UK jobs that the industry supports." The Government has issued a notice to proceed to the companies that will build phase one of the high-speed railway.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for HS2 in February despite it running tens of billions of pounds over budget and several years behind schedule.