Rishi Sunak scraps high-speed rail plan
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Rishi Sunak scraps high-speed rail plan

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he was cancelling part of a high-speed rail project, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty. His decision to reinvent his premiership as one characterised by tough decisions and action, however, stirred anger within his own Conservative Party. The move was seen as an attempt to revive his political standing, especially as the governing Conservatives were trailing behind the opposition Labour Party in polls, just ahead of an expected election next year.

In an effort to portray him as a leader willing to make long-term "tough decisions" for the betterment of the people, Sunak made a significant announcement during his closing speech at the party's annual conference in Manchester. He declared the halt of the HS2 high-speed rail project to Manchester, a decision that had been anticipated for days. Addressing the party conference, he stated, "I'm ending this long-running saga. I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project. And in its place, we will reinvest every single penny - 36 billion pounds - in hundreds of new transport projects in the north and the midlands, across the country."

Sunak's move to cancel the project had been met with mixed reactions within his party, as some members expressed their discontent. Despite his intentions to demonstrate decisiveness and action, the decision raised concerns about the stability of the party. However, Sunak and his team remained resolute, aiming to reshape his premiership by taking bold steps for the benefit of the nation.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he was cancelling part of a high-speed rail project, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty. His decision to reinvent his premiership as one characterised by tough decisions and action, however, stirred anger within his own Conservative Party. The move was seen as an attempt to revive his political standing, especially as the governing Conservatives were trailing behind the opposition Labour Party in polls, just ahead of an expected election next year. In an effort to portray him as a leader willing to make long-term tough decisions for the betterment of the people, Sunak made a significant announcement during his closing speech at the party's annual conference in Manchester. He declared the halt of the HS2 high-speed rail project to Manchester, a decision that had been anticipated for days. Addressing the party conference, he stated, I'm ending this long-running saga. I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project. And in its place, we will reinvest every single penny - 36 billion pounds - in hundreds of new transport projects in the north and the midlands, across the country. Sunak's move to cancel the project had been met with mixed reactions within his party, as some members expressed their discontent. Despite his intentions to demonstrate decisiveness and action, the decision raised concerns about the stability of the party. However, Sunak and his team remained resolute, aiming to reshape his premiership by taking bold steps for the benefit of the nation.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?