The UK Government is under fresh pressure to extend its high speed rail plans to Scotland after a leaked report revealed it could cost the north-east economy hundreds of millions of pounds.
But extending the HS2 scheme to Aberdeen could cost an extra £10billion, according to a report seen by the Press and Journal.
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray would be more than £220million a year worse off under the controversial project, which will put faster trains on routes between London Euston and the Midlands, north-west England and West Yorkshire.
UK Government ministers had earlier said HS2 would boost Britain’s economy by £2billion a year.
Aberdeen Donside MSP Mark McDonald said: “It is worrying that this has effectively been hidden by the UK Government.
“We now know that Aberdeen will be the biggest loser from the HS2 decision – and I think it is right that people will now question how much those in Westminster care about the north-east economy.”
