… and consultation begins on station proposals for the Crewe Hub

Government launched a consultation process on August 3 for HS2’s Crewe Hub station, as recommended by HS2 Ltd Chairman Sir David Higgins in 2014.

The proposal would provide 400metre platforms at Crewe, enabling longer HS2 trains to and from London to split and join at Crewe, and enabling other destinations such as Stoke to be served by a high-speed service.

The consultation will also seek views on: providing a junction north of Crewe to connect to the West Coast Main Line and the high-speed line as part of HS2 Phase 2b in 2033; levels of future freight growth that should be considered in planning a Crewe Hub; levels of growth in local and regional passenger services that should be considered; and the role the local area could play in realising the Hub, including through local funding and evidence for potential levels of growth.

Proposals for a Crewe Hub are additional to the core HS2 scheme. Any future decisions on the scheme will be subject to affordability and value for money. The consultation runs until October 12.

Current plans have HS2 Phase 2a joining the WCML south of Crewe via two spur lines. Modification to the existing railway is required ready for this to open in 2027.

The Hybrid Bill for Phase 2a proposed: a junction enhancement at Sandbach and Maw Green (enabling HS2 trains to pass slower services); a junction enhancement south of Crewe (enabling HS2 trains to cross from slow to fast line at higher speed in both directions simultaneously); and a new platform at Crewe on the Manchester Independent lines currently used for freight.

The latter could enable passenger trains such as those running from Cardiff to Manchester to approach from the west and leave to the east without crossing the existing lines.