show ad HS2 train line 'could go £30BILLION over budget, rail project chairman warns Government' * The final cost for HS2 could between £70 billion and £85 billion says Allan Cook * Mr Cook, chairman of high-speed railway, wrote to government with concerns * He warns that it will not be completed for the original £55.7 -- comments HS2 could cost some £30 billion more than expected, it has been reported. The chairman of the high-speed railway project has written to the Department for Transport to warn that it cannot be completed for the original £55.7 billion budget, the Financial Times says. -- concerns, has predicted the final figure could end up being between £70 billion and £85 billion. An artist's impression of an HS2 train on the Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct, part of the proposed route for the HS2 high speed rail scheme An artist's impression of an HS2 train on the Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct, part of the proposed route for the HS2 high speed rail scheme An artist's impression of an HS2 train on the Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct, part of the proposed route for the HS2 high speed rail scheme RELATED ARTICLES -- paper quoted an unnamed source close to the project as saying. HS2 is planned to run up to 18 trains per hour at a top speed of 225mph - faster than France's high speed TGV service which currently runs at around 200mph. A spokesman for HS2 Ltd said: 'We don't comment on leaks or speculation. We have previously noted that our chair, as you would expect, continues to scrutinise the programme, and regularly reports -- taxpayers.' A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: 'The chairman of HS2 Ltd is conducting detailed work into of the costs and schedule of the project to ensure it delivers benefits to passengers, the economy and represents value for money for the taxpayer. HS2: London to Birmingham rail route, showing phase one, two A and two B HS2: London to Birmingham rail route, showing phase one, two A and two B HS2: London to Birmingham rail route, showing phase one, two A and two B -- 'It's another failing by Grayling by the looks of it. 'We're (the Labour party) committed to high speed rail but we've said time and time again that we will ensure that we review all of the costings and make sure that we have tighter control than this -- A report by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee in May warned it was 'far from convinced' it would be built for the original planned cost, and former HS2 chairman Sir Terry Morgan has claimed the project cannot be built to its current specification on budget. -- Campaigners have called for a police investigation into the handling of the project, to check if anyone has been misled about its true costs. The proposed journey times for the HS2 (in red) verses the current times (blue) The proposed journey times for the HS2 (in red) verses the current times (blue) The proposed journey times for the HS2 (in red) verses the current times (blue) Stop HS2 Campaign Manager Joe Rukin said: 'This project has to be abandoned immediately, and we believe it is time to call the police in to see if fraud by abuse of position has taken place. -- difficulties' for his constituents in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Phase 1 of HS2 is planned to run between London and Birmingham from December 2026, while a second Y-shaped phase will launch in two stages. -- in 2033. HS2 trains will also serve destinations on conventional lines beyond the new high-speed network, including York, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. -- Share or comment on this article: HS2 train line 'could go £30BILLION over budget, rail project chairman warns Government'