Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Talk is cheap.It's just HS2 phase 2a (plus a bit) by another name. Slightly reducing the speed will save very little and doing it in stages will just stretch it out for decades.
It's a complete non-starter given the current state of the economy. That said, don't be surprised if it is agreed in principle by the current government and then kicked into the long grass awaiting private sector funding.
Unless consultants get involved...