A RAIL expert's report which branded High Speed 2 an unaffordable 'white elephant' should be not be ignored by the Government, Wycombe's MP says.

Steve Baker has asked the House of Commons Transport Committee for an enquiry into HS2 - which will cut through Buckinghamshire's countryside heartland.

He said the new TaxPayers’ Alliance research was “incredibly powerful”.

Rail expert and report author Chris Stokes said the multi-billion pound scheme for a new London to Birmingham line should be cancelled.

The report said HS2 will never produce a financial return, will not cut greenhouse gas emissions, and claimed the business case is based on 'flawed assumptions' and 'unrealistic' forecasts of passenger numbers.

HS2 will be “a railway for the rich, but paid for by everyone,” the report claimed.

The TaxPayers' Alliance said it could not be a priority in the light of severe public spending cuts and mocked the scheme as merely “a flashy new train set that will be a huge white elephant."

Mr Baker is a member the Transport Select Committee, which scrutinises the Government's transport policy. He has called for an enquiry.

Mr Baker came out against the plans last year - against Conservative party policy.

“Since I became MP, I have become increasingly aware that many constituents in Wycombe and across Buckinghamshire are getting actively involved in groups like the TPA, who campaign relentlessly against government waste and public-sector white elephants such as High Speed rail,” he said.

“Their latest research is incredibly powerful.

"It is a body of facts that the Government ought not to ignore in this challenging economic environment.”

Changes to the original plans to reduce the visual impact in the Chilterns were announced by Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond late last year.

These include 'green bridges' between Amersham and Wendover.

The Department for Transport rejected the report this week.

It said HS2 is “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-shape Britain's economic geography”.

The Dft said HS2 would “generate massive economic benefits”, will be “broadly carbon neutral” and with “key rail arteries close to capacity doing nothing is simply not an option.”

Home-owners will get compensation if their houses have to be destroyed or lose value, the Government have said.

Parliament's “biggest and most wide-ranging ever” public consultation starts this month.