Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Commons yesterday that the severely delayed and over-budget high-speed rail project will now cost up to £102.7billion.

Heidi Alexander will tell the Commons that delivering the beleaguered high-speed rail project may cost triple the £32.7billion price tag it was originally given in 2011.

Cost could have funded programme to send astronauts around the moon - with money left over

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to announce the maximum speed of the trains will be 199mph