Government consults on Crewe Hub proposals

The Government is to consult on proposals to develop the Crewe Hub scheme in order to provide greater connectivity between HS2 and the conventional rail network.

Key questions asked in the consultation are: whether 400-metre-long platforms should be provided, which would potentially allow HS2 trains to split and join there; whether to provide a junction between HS2 Phase 2b and the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe; and whether infrastructure and signalling at Crewe can be enhanced to offer more flexibility for HS2.

The consultation also examines the levels of freight growth that should be considered in the planning of the Crewe Hub, and the number of local and regional passenger services.

When HS2 Phase 2a is open, two trains per hour are envisaged as stopping at Crewe. To enable the new trains, junction enhancements at Sandbach and Maw Green and improvements south of the station are proposed.

A new platform on the ‘Manchester Independent lines’ currently used for freight could allow some passenger trains to approach from the west and leave to the east without conflicting with other movements.

And Network Rail and HS2 are exploring whether a combined scheme aimed at resignalling and remodelling the station could be delivered with HS2 improvements before 2027.

The consultation period ends on October 12.