Boris Johnson may have to greenlight HS2 but he can say no to Heathrow expansion | Larry Elliott

PM could turn loss of face over opposition to HS2 into a victory that ticks all the boxes

Delays. The threat of sudden cancellation. Expensive. The story of HS2 is that of the modern rail traveller writ large. Now a decision on whether the 100bn-plus project should go ahead is imminent.

The are no certainties in politics but despite the misgivings of Boris Johnson and his senior Downing Street advisers it looks as if the green signal will be given for the line connecting London with Manchester and Leeds.

(January 1, 2009)

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