Jim Crawford has been working on the scheme since 2014

jim crawford from gov website

The managing director of the first phase of HS2 has left a week after it was revealed would-be prime minister Boris Johnson plans to make the rail scheme update its business case.

Jim Crawford was appointed in May 2014 as managing director of the scheme’s first phase, which will see the high-speed line built between London and Birmingham, with stations at Euston, Old Oak, Solihull and Birmingham Curzon Street.

Crawford is set to continue helping HS2 work on its project review for the ongoing government spending review.

Mark Thurston, chief executive of HS2, said: “His work has helped us get to the point where we are supporting nine thousand jobs around the country and works well underway on 250 sites from the South East to the West Midlands.

“I look forward to his ongoing support in developing the business case for HS2 before he leaves the business later this year, and wish him well.”

Before joining HS2, Crawford worked at Network Rail, and prior to that he worked at Turner & Townsend.

Last week it was revealed that Johnson, the favourite candidate to replace Theresa May as prime minister, has tapped up former HS2 chairman Doug Oakervee to reassess the business case for the scheme – should Johnson become Tory leader. 

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