HS2 Extension to London Euston Hits Massive Roadblock
HS2 Rail Line May Stop Short of London
The planned HS2 high-speed rail line might never reach London Euston unless private investors step up. Originally designed to link Birmingham directly with London, new plans could see the line truncated at Old Oak Common in west London instead.
Government Slashes HS2 Station Plans
To rein in costs, the government has axed two “gold-plated” Euston station designs deemed too pricey. The number of high-speed train platforms is slashed from 11 to just six. Even a pedestrian tunnel connecting Euston station to Euston Square tube has been dumped. The Department for Transport says the “rescoped” project will save a whopping £6.5 billion but only if it gets private cash backing.
Electric Car Sales Dip Amid Mixed Market Signals
September saw a 14% drop in electric car sales to private buyers year-on-year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed. Yet, overall EV registrations soared nearly 19%, thanks to booming company fleet purchases. The wider car market shows signs of life with a 21% rise in new registrations, but the industry is still shaking off pandemic and supply chain chaos.
Metro Bank Scrambles to Calm Investors Amid Share Price Tumble
Metro Bank’s shares have taken a nosedive, sparking concerns over its financial health. The high street lender is eyeing ways to raise hundreds of millions to refinance debt and cover a bond repayment due next year. Though there’s no immediate deadline, Metro Bank wants to steady nerves after alarm bells rang in the City, reports Sky News.
