Member Article

Cheshire wants HS2 - and new hub station in Crewe

A “once-in-a-century opportunity” to reinvigorate Crewe as a major rail capital is in sight – if proposals for a brand new hub train station are accepted.

Cheshire East Council is supporting the proposed new high-speed rail line – HS2 – subject to the proposal delivering a new hub station for Crewe and the highest standards of mitigation and compensation for residents and businesses affected by the route of the line.

The creation of a new hub station and track layout for Crewe – paid for by Network Rail – could accommodate a new stop for HS2 – with the prospect of up to seven services to London every hour. The proposal would create £1.5 billion of transport benefits and a further £1 billion of economic value for the local economy, creating up to 60,000 new jobs.

A paper setting out the case for a new hub station as part of the HS2 proposals is set to go before Cheshire East’s Cabinet on Tuesday January 7.

Council Leader Michael Jones said: “HS2 is a once in a century opportunity and just as Crewe was the original railway town, so we will be again if these proposals are accepted.

“Given Crewe’s unique 360 degree connectivity, there is a compelling case for a new hub station allowing us to fully maximise the benefits of HS2 as well as provide more capacity for local passenger services and extra freight, freeing-up space on our roads.

“We have been in detailed talks with Network Rail and other partners about this to make sure the proposals are costed and robust and I am pleased that they are. We have now written to the Transport Secretary setting out our vision and backing it up our detailed analysis.

“The consultation on the HS2 route is the right time to make this case, so we are urging the people of Cheshire East to say ‘Yes’ to HS2 and ‘Yes’ to a new hub station for Crewe.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .