article_snippet: The cost of building the HS2 railway line is nine times higher than it would be in France, a damning report concludes today.
article_snippet: The Economics of High Speed 2 – says the Government's sums do not add up.
article_snippet: the Government's sums claim ministers have failed to consider an alternative to spending £50billion on one line, asking: 'How much could be achieved if that money were invested differently?
article_snippet: The cost per mile of HS2 is estimated to be up to nine times higher than the cost of constructing high speed lines in France.' a damning report A House of Lords committee concludes the Government has many questions to answer on cost, benefit, reducing overcrowding and helping the regions.
article_snippet: Lord Hollick, chairman of A House of Lords committee, said: 'At £50billion, HS2 will be one of the most expensive infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK but the Government have not yet made a convincing case for why it is necessary. '
article_snippet: However the Department for Transport insisted HS2 would deliver more than £2 of benefits for every £1 invested.
article_snippet: the peers said the target price for phase one of HS2 gives an average cost of around £90million per kilometre.
article_snippet: The French TGV network cost £9.7million a kilometre.
highlights_snippet: Claim HS2 line would cost 'nine times more' in UK than Claim HS2 line would in France .
  
highlights_snippet: The high-speed line is supposed to help balance the country's economy .
  