More room for local Lichfield-Crewe trains

Six long-distance trains per hour running on HS2 Phase 2a will free up capacity on the West Coast Main Line between Lichfield and Crewe, says HS2 Ltd.

The company says creating the additional capacity could enable hourly services on the WCML, currently operated by London Northwestern Railway, to double in number - and perhaps by even more.

Trains will leave the Phase 1 network at Delta Junction (Water Orton) and continue north, while others will continue into Birmingham Curzon Street.

Phase 2a (Birmingham-Crewe) would also free more capacity for trains from Crewe to Liverpool, as well as other services on the WCML towards London, says HS2 Ltd.

While trains running on HS2 from London will join the WCML at Crewe when running to Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland, HS2 Ltd has confirmed that connections will also be available for passengers travelling into Wales.

Plans revealed last year for sidings north of Crewe for HS2 trains are not part of Phase 2a.