The government has failed to make a convincing economic case for the £50bn HS2 rail project, according to a House of Lords committee.
A report published by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee said that new infrastructure was vital but that HS2 had not yet been shown to be the best use of public money to increase railway capacity or rebalance the economy.
It said that other less expensive options should be explored instead.
Lord Hollick, chairman of the committee, said the government had yet to carry out a proper assessment of alternative, more cost-effective options to increase capacity on the rail network.
The first phase of the £50bn plan, between London and Birmingham, will open in 2026, followed by a V-shaped section to Manchester and Yorkshire.
It aims to reduce journey times between Birmingham and London from 81 minutes to 49 minutes and the journey to Manchester by an hour to 68 minutes.
