Delays Plague Britain's High-Speed Rail Project Once Again

A section of the UK's HS2 high-speed rail project, linking London to northern England, faces a four-year delay. The project's history includes cost overruns and scope changes. Originally planned to connect Birmingham and Manchester, part of the northern section was canceled two years ago due to budget concerns.

LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A section of Britain's ambitious high-speed railway line, HS2, faces a substantial delay of at least four years, revealed officials on Wednesday. The project, meant to connect London with northern England, continues to struggle with budget overruns and shifting goals since its 2012 approval.

Previously, escalating costs led to the cancellation of the line's northern segment between Birmingham and Manchester. HS2 Ltd has now decided to postpone the construction of an 18-mile section north of Birmingham to focus resources on completing the primary London-Birmingham route.

Despite past setbacks, plans for the full 18-mile stretch north of Birmingham persist. Presently, the UK's new Labour government, elected last year, supports completing the southern leg of the HS2. As the country aims to advance infrastructure plans, it endorses expansions at major airports like Heathrow and Gatwick.

(With inputs from agencies.)