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The new minister for HS2 rail has promised to oversee the controversial project with "forensic scrutiny", saying that the rail link had to regain "the public's trust".The project was given the go-ahead by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month, despite estimations that the cost could run to more than £100bn by the time it is completed.Read more: Boris Johnson to appoint minister to oversee HS2 as he gives rail link green lightAndrew Stephenson, who was last week appointed specifically to look after HS2, today emphasised his commitment to the project in his first speech in post in Manchester.Stephenson, the MP for Pendle in Lancashire, said that he believed the project "will redefine rail travel for northern passengers":"It is an unprecedented opportunity to reverse decades of underinvestment in our northern railways and to fire up the northern economy, just as the original railways did".He said that although he had been a long-time supporter of the project, he had watched "with deep concern" as costs had risen and deadlines been pushed back:"Very simply, that can't continue", he said. "We need to have a much better, improved approach from HS2 Ltd this time. The company has a new budget for phase one, and now must deliver it".Sign up to City A.M.'s Midday Update newsletter, delivered to your inbox every lunchtimeHS2 Ltd, the company charged with delivering the project, has come under heavy fire for its "poor management" of the project.When giving the project approval, Johnson stressed that his decision had "not [been] made easier by HS2 Ltd":"I cannot say HS2 Ltd has distinguished itself among local communities," he said. "Costs have exploded".Speaking to the New Statesman's Northern Powerhouse conference in central Manchester, Stephenson said that the project w
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