HS2 delays and rising costs a 'bitter pill to swallow' for West Midlands

HS2 delays and rising costs will be a "bitter pill to swallow" for communities in the West Midlands, campaigners and regional leaders have said. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced on Tuesday the high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham would not open until between 2036 and 2039 - up to six years later than the most recent target. The project could now cost as much as £102.7bn, while the top speed of trains will also be reduced from 360km/h (224mph) to 320km/h (199mph) in an effort to cut costs. Lichfield MP Dave Robertson said the announcement was a bitter pill to swallow but others said HS2 was already bringing investment and jobs to the region. Engineering work has been going on in and around Lichfield as that is where the route will link into the West Coast Main Line. Robertson said people in Staffordshire had already endured years of disruption because of the scheme. "Today's announcement will be a bitter pill to swallow for so many people in our part of Staffordshire," Robertson said. "The scale of failings over more than a decade and a half are staggering. "The ballooning budgets and over runs that have become so commonplace under previous governments sho