Chunnel link leaves £4.8bn debt

Over-optimistic forecasts for passenger demand have left taxpayers "saddled with £4.8 billion of debt" over the HS1 Channel Tunnel rail link, a report by MPs has said.

These "unrealistic estimates" for the London to Folkestone HS1 link must not be repeated when the business case is made for the proposed London to Birmingham HS2 high-speed line, the report said.