Cost of HS2 could pass £80bn as estimated bill jumps 15% in a year

Projected bill includes price of building HS2 station at Euston, with a budget of about 5bn

The bill for building the HS2 high-speed railway could pass 80bn at current prices, as estimated costs jumped by 15% since the last parliamentary report just over a year ago.

An update expected imminently from ministers will put the budget at building the line from London to Birmingham at between 54bn and 66bn, quoting figures supplied to the Department for Transportby HS2 Ltd.