: Today (24 January
2022) the government will introduce the High Speed Rail (Crewe –
Manchester) Bill - a key part of Building Back Better after the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Alongside the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill and
accompanying Environmental Statement, the government is also
publishing:
The Integrated Rail Plan for
the North and Midlands (IRP) set out the government’s
commitment to invest in rail infrastructure across the North and
Midlands. Delivering the Western Leg of HS2 is a vital part of this commitment.
This includes plans for the Crewe Hub and Crewe Northern
Connection, allowing HS2
trains to call at Crewe and Manchester and enhancing connectivity
to north-west England, Wales, and Scotland.
This next stage of HS2 from
Crewe to Manchester will increase passenger capacity, improve
connectivity, and reduce journey times. It is integral to
delivering on the government’s commitment to level-up the
country. HS2 will join up the
North, Midlands, and London by effectively halving the journey
times between the centres of the UK’s 3 largest cities. The
scheme will contribute towards sustainable growth in towns,
cities, and regions across the country, spreading prosperity and
opportunity more widely. It will act as a catalyst for job
creation, the development of new homes and ultimately, the
regeneration of major cities and towns along the HS2 route.
HS2 will help provide a
cleaner and greener form of transport, offering significantly
lower carbon emissions per passenger kilometre than long distance
car journeys or domestic air travel. HS2 has the potential to deliver
world-class low-carbon transport to bring our biggest cities
closer together, spread opportunity and support the UK’s
transition to a ‘net zero’ economy.
The bill includes the powers necessary to construct and operate
the HS2route between Crewe
and Manchester. It is accompanied by an Environmental Statement
which describes the railway, alternatives considered, the
environmental effects that are likely to arise from its
construction and operation, and the measures proposed to avoid or
reduce the negative effects. It has been informed by the
consultation on the working draft Environmental Statement held in
Autumn 2018 as well as through engagement with stakeholders. An
Equalities Impact Assessment is also being published.
The government’s response to the Western Leg Design Refinement
Consultation is an important part of introducing this bill. The
October 2020 consultation set out 4 technical refinements to the
Western Leg of Phase 2b:
- a new Crewe Northern Connection to support the vision for a
Crewe Hub
- changes to the rolling stock depot at Crewe
- expansions to both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester
Airport High Speed stations
- a new train depot at Annandale in Dumfries and Galloway
Having considered the feedback from all the respondents, the
government has decided to confirm these 4 changes.
The update on the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) sets out the
clear, strategic case for the HS2 Crewe-Manchester scheme, together
with up-to-date cost range for the programme of between £15
billion and £22 billion (2019 prices). This SOBC contains the first
cost estimate that has been produced specifically for the scheme
between Crewe and Manchester. As the project progresses in design
maturity, the cost estimate will be further refined and will
inform the Full Business Case, which will be presented to
Parliament in due course.
Copies of the government’s response to the second Design
Refinement Consultation will be made available in the libraries
of both Houses and are also publicly accessible online through
the GOV.UK website.
North West on track to
benefit from faster and more reliable train journeys as bill for
next phase of HS2 to be laid
in Parliament news story, 24 January 2022.
