While opposition to HS2 remains strong, it seems more and more likely that Justine Greening will approve the project as the rail industry awaits her announcement this week.

A new review by Network Rail, suggesting that alternatives will be unable to provide a comparable level of capacity, may be the final nail in the coffin for those arguing that HS2 is not economically feasible.

While many have criticised the environmental effects of the line, a big stumbling block is the huge cost of the project, especially at a time of economic austerity. Investment is surely needed in the UK, but whether this is the right investment may take several years, and billions of pounds to confirm.

With the myriad of alternative suggestions and different routes surrounding HS2, it may be that the final decision is the same one that has been considered for years.