The Government has today announced it will build the HS2 high-speed rail via Crewe – and will invest £5 billion to complete the project six years early.
Chancellor George Osborne made the landmark statement confirming the finalised route the HS2 project will take.
It also confirmed the northern section to Crewe would be completed by 2027 rather than 2033.
Cheshire East Council Leader Councillor Michael Jones hailed the announcement as a “game-changer” that makes it certain that Crewe will get a HS2 hub station.
He believes it will create more than 120,000 jobs by 2040 and inject £10 billion a year into the wider region’s economy.
Cllr Jones also announced the council is to establish a new regeneration company to deliver an economic growth strategy for the South Cheshire sub-region and seek Cabinet approval for the release of £500,000 from current budgets to deliver the HS2 programme.
Previously, the Transport Secretary had called for HS2 to be ‘fast tracked’ and indicated Crewe could become the first northern hub for HS2 before the 225mph service continues to Manchester.
Cllr Jones said: “This is massive news and a real game changer – not just for Crewe and Cheshire East, but for Stoke, North Staffordshire and the region as a whole.
“This is not simply about high speed – it is crucially about capacity and connectivity.
“The benefits to Crewe and the surrounding area would be massive in terms of jobs and the economy – it’s a real once-in-a-generation opportunity, the like of which Cheshire East has not seen before.
“However, as we have consistently said, we want to reach out to our neighbouring local authorities and see the growth and benefits spread to them as well.
“This council has put in an enormous amount of work over the past four years to seek to secure HS2 for Crewe and the new regeneration company will build on that.
“The confirmation of the HS2 route – which makes Crewe the logical place to locate the North West hub – is something we have been looking forward to with real anticipation.
“A hub station in Crewe would act as the gateway to the Northern Powerhouse and provide a vital link to the Midlands Engine.
“HS2 promises to bring a 21st century railway revolution to Crewe and utterly transform its economic prospects and those of the surrounding region.”
The new Crewe Engineering and Design UTC, which is due to open its doors to students next September, aims to boost education and training in the area and broaden academic and vocational skills for young people.
The council is now working with Department for Transport and Network Rail to finalise the location of the new HS2 hub station at Crewe.
Great news! As a retired railway man from Crewe works and armed with his early morning tipple, I am sure Cllr Moran will be making full use of this new service!