Senior ministers in the UK government are not happy with how the HS2 project has been handled.

The high speed rail line has been dogged by protests and concerns are growing about the value for money the scheme actually offers.

Recent estimates have suggested the final cost could be as high as £50 billion, while even if it is completed on schedule, it will still not be fully functional until 2032. 

Sources close to the government have told the Sunday Telegraph that prime minister David Cameron is being held responsible for not being able to get the public behind the project. 

A senior government source said: "It was mad to try to sell HS2 to the public on journey times. The prime minister was told this but didn't listen. The whole thing has been very badly handled."

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin recently admitted the argument should have always been about increasing capacity and not shorter journeys.