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Sir Terry Morgan has resigned as chair of HS2 and Crossrail.

It comes just days after Sir Terry said that he expected to be sacked "within days" because of concerns about ballooning costs of the project.

The departure of Crossrail chief executive Simon Wright was announced last month.

The budget for the project was increased from £14.8 billion to £15.4 billion in July due to "cost pressures", and in October the Mayor of London was offered £350 million of additional Government funding.

The railway was due to open this month but its launch has been pushed back until at least autumn next year.

Responding to his resignation, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Sir Terry has been an integral part of Crossrail for almost a decade and I would like to thank him for his dedication and the expertise he brought to the role.

"I am also grateful to him for his work as chair of HS2 Ltd.

(Image: REUTERS)

"HS2 is the country's biggest infrastructure project and, with his wealth of experience, Allan Cook CBE is the right person to oversee the project as it progresses towards full construction."

According to Construction News the London Mayor told Sir Terry he had "lost confidence" in him back in September but was unable to force his resignation.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 PM programme on Saturday after leaks to the Financial Times about reports of his imminent dismissal from his role at HS2, he said: “I did get confirmation late yesterday afternoon that that was a leak.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m expecting that to be confirmed more formally in the next few days.”

Andy McDonald MP, said: "While the boss of HS2 has resigned, passengers and taxpayers will be asking why the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has not accepted any responsibility and why he is still in post.

“Once again the Tories are proving themselves incapable of providing the leadership to deliver infrastructure investment on time or on budget.”