TRANSPORT union TSSA has welcomed any legal challenge to the quick sale of land acquired for phase two of HS2.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced at the Tory Party conference that he would axe the high-speed rail link from Birmingham to Manchester and sell off properties purchased on the route.

Experts have since warned the move could lead to hundreds of millions in additional costs and legal and technical challenges.

Rail unions previously urged ministers to halt the plans after independent government infrastructure adviser Sir John Armitt warned that the sell-off would make rail travel between Birmingham and Manchester “even more congested.”

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said it was vital that the door is left open for a high-speed rail on the route.

“Any legal challenge to this fire sale of HS2 land is to be welcomed,” she added.

“Instead of Rishi Sunak sparking a gold rush, time must be taken so that communities and councils on the route are able to consider what happens now.”

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “As Chancellor, Rishi Sunak personally oversaw the soaring costs of HS2, and did nothing.

"Then he wasted billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on a line he has now scrapped.

"Now millions more will be wasted in this fire sale of the land which so many people had to give up their homes and businesses for.

"This is a government with no direction, no plan and no regard for taxpayers’ money.”