I’ve said on here before, under the Tories HS2 won’t get beyond Birmingham. The bit currently being built benefits the London economy more than Brum and they have no intention of watering that down by taking it any further north. The news that it has been “delayed” is more bad news for the red wall. Many commentators are suggesting that the delay will be more than 10 years. I’m suggesting that after that time the maintenance costs for the Smoke to Brum bit will be so high that the rest will just be ditched.