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Parliament and the public 鈥渁re still in the dark鈥� on key details about the 拢55bn HS2 project, MPs have warned.

The Public Accounts Committee has criticised the scheme for not having a 鈥渞ealistic timetable鈥�, arguing getting the first phase from London to Birmingham to open in 2026 as planned is 鈥渙verly ambitious鈥�.

It also urged the government to clarify the route and costs for the second phase, linking to Manchester and Leeds.

The MPs鈥� report comes just days after .

But this morning the city of Birmingham gave the controversial project a boost by .

The Department for Transport said the project was 鈥渙n time and on budget鈥�, adding: 鈥淲e are keeping a tough grip on costs, and pressing ahead with plans for phase two - with further details due to be announced this autumn.鈥�

The MPs鈥� report acknowledged there had been 鈥渃onsiderable progress鈥� on HS2 since its first report on the project in 2013. But the committee鈥檚 chair said both parliament and the public were 鈥渟till in the dark about crucial details - not least when the railway will open, how much it is expected to cost and precisely where it will go鈥�.

The report said the cost estimates for the second phase were 鈥渧olatile鈥�, and 拢7bn higher than the agreed 拢28.5bn funding. It noted that 拢9bn of potential savings had been identified, but said it was unclear whether these could be made without 鈥渁dversely affecting the expected benefits of the programme鈥�.