By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent
The Labour leadership is facing a furious backlash from dozens of its own MPs over suggestions that the party might pull its support of HS2, Sky News has learnt.
Many backbenchers are livid with Ed Balls - the Shadow Chancellor - for voicing doubts and warning that Labour won't support the project if costs rise too much.
Other senior Labour figures including Lord Mandelson have also expressed misgivings.
The party's position is highly significant because the Prime Minister has said the high speed rail link from London to Birmingham and then further north can only go ahead with cross-party support.
He implied that Labour withdrawing its support would effectively kill the project.
Now sources have revealed that up to 40 MPs turned up to a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party's transport committee, which would usually only attract a handful of MPs, to express their anger.
Seventeen Labour MPs, many representing constituencies in the north, spoke out in support of HS2. Only two said anything against.
Jack Straw, the former Cabinet minister, warned that he would bring a motion to the PLP if the party shifted its position.
Politicians will vote on the continuation of HS2 in Parliament late today and many Labour MPs who would normally head back to their constituencies on Thursday morning will stay to offer their support to the Government bill.
Mary Creagh chaired a tense meeting of Labour MPs on the HS2 issue The meeting was chaired by the shadow transport secretary, Mary Creagh.
One MP who attended said: "People were saying that they didn't blame her but Ed Balls."
Frontbenchers were among those said to be expressing concern.
They were dismayed when Mr Balls signalled that Labour could pull its support for the project - despite initiating it when the party was in Government.
At the party's conference in Brighton he said there could be no "blank cheque" for HS2.
"The question is not just whether a new high speed line is a good idea or a bad idea, but whether it is the best way to spend £50bn for the future of our country," he said.
Senior Labour sources said it was his job as Shadow Chancellor to fight for value for money on behalf of the taxpayer - and it would be wrong for him not to challenge rising costs.
"I think our position on HS2 is as clear as it can possibly be," said one. "We support HS2 and will vote for the bill. But it is right to examine costs, it is right to get value for money, it is right not to give a blank cheque."
But Labour MPs in northern constituencies believe the train line will trigger an economic boost in their areas - and that any uncertainty could damage those prospects.
They point out that the Labour leader Ed Miliband has himself said he is convinced of both the economic and social case.
They can't understand why the party is weakening its support. The shifting position on HS2 has also infuriated the Prime Minister who angrily referred to it more than once during his weekly question time in Parliament yesterday.
Labour will back the Government in today's vote but there is only a single-line whip - meaning Labour MPs will not be punished if they fail to vote in favour of HS2.
That had also angered the northern MPs.
Mr Cameron is certain to win the vote with Labour support but he is likely to face rebellion from his own MPs - particularly those whose constituencies are affected by the development.
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