A proposed high-speed rail project to improve links from London to central and northern England will cost about £20 billion more than originally expected and is up to five years behind schedule, the government said on Tuesday.
The High Speed 2 project (HS2) aims to slash journey times between the capital and Birmingham, which supporters say would give Britain the kind of fast rail services enjoyed by other major countries.
A second phase envisages a new link from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds in northern England.