TORY ministers must “stop pussyfooting around” with more delays to the troubled High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project, transport union TSSA is demanding today.

The intervention comes as the National Audit Office (NAO) urges Downing Street to use a new two-year moratorium on fresh construction work at the project’s London terminal in Euston to develop a design that is “affordable, deliverable and value for money.”

In its latest report — out today — the independent body said the government must “reassess expectations for HS2, its budget and the public benefit” amid soaring inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

A 2020 “reset” in the Euston terminal’s design, which is set to connect the capital with a more than £100 billion new line to Birmingham, has “not succeeded” and needs looking at once again, NAO concluded.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper was slammed earlier this month for announcing that services originally due to depart from the central London site will not now do so for many years and for confirming a 24-month delay to construction on the Birmingham to Crewe leg of the project — which will eventually run to Manchester. 

An eastern line to Leeds was originally planned, but it was scrapped in 2021. 

TSSA interim general secretary Peter Pendle said: “The government really must stop pussyfooting around with HS2 and Euston in particular.

“Their stop-start approach is wholly counterproductive to costs in the long-term and is also debilitating and shambolic for everyone involved.

“This government must get a grip and realise that HS2 is central to our future up and down the country.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We remain committed to delivering HS2 and will carefully consider the recommendations set out by NAO.”