The second phase of HS2 secured official approval yesterday after Boris Johnson promised that the line would be built in full.
Royal assent was granted for phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe, which will eventually allow high-speed rail services to join existing train lines to Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
The prime minister rejected claims that the eastern leg, phase 2b,would not be built.
“I can certainly confirm that we are going to develop the eastern leg as well as the whole of HS2,” he told the Commons on Wednesday.
