Council considers position on potential future rail schemes

Two potential new rail schemes that would directly impact Cheshire East will be discussed by councillors next week, as the council considers its position on both plans.

A report will be presented to Cheshire East Council’s corporate policy committee that outlines plans for the proposed Liverpool to Manchester Railway section of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project, and options for a Midlands-North West Rail Link – a possible alternative scheme to the scrapped Phase 2 section of HS2.

If progressed, both schemes would see several miles of new railway passing through the borough.

The council welcomes alternative options to HS2 and proposals that would improve rail connections and both freight and passenger capacity in the North.

However, councillors are being asked to consider whether the council should lend its support to the schemes and what conditions any support should be based on.

Councillor Nick Mannion, leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its corporate policy committee, said:

“The need for improved rail connectivity across the North is clear and Cheshire East Council recognises the transport and economic opportunities that these two new rail schemes could deliver.

“Crewe is fundamental to delivering on those opportunities and Crewe Station needs to be at the heart of these plans.

“It is one of the busiest and most important hubs in the national rail network – both for passengers and freight – and offers 360-degree connectivity with direct services to London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Scotland, and Wales. 

“It is critical for Cheshire East that we see investment made at Crewe station and that new services do not just pass through the town but connect and stop there.

“Without this, we are unlikely to see the investment, connectivity and regeneration opportunities for Crewe and the wider borough that HS2 would have unlocked, but we’d still be expected to take on the burden of the negative impacts of these schemes, such as on the environment.”

Cllr Mannion added:

“While these schemes are still in the early stages, it’s important that as a council, we have an agreed and clear position from the beginning so that we’re best placed to work with partners and seek the investment, opportunities and mitigations needed for the borough.”

The report proposes that councillors recommend to full council that it ‘provisionally supports’ the Liverpool to Manchester Railway scheme as long as a number of conditions are met, including investment at Crewe Station.

This scheme, as it is currently proposed, does not include any direct connectivity benefit for Cheshire East or any of its railway stations.In relation to the Midlands – North West Rail Link, councillors are recommended to only lend support to the scheme if Crewe is put ‘at the heart’ of the solution. 

The current recommended option for this scheme does not provide the investment and connectivity benefits to Crewe that HS2 offered and does not include any improvements to Crewe station. It also potentially proposes a tunnel that could effectively allow new services to bypass the station.

Cllr Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its economy and growth committee, said:

“We want to see the North prosper, and improved connectivity and capacity on our rail network can deliver transformational benefits, including new jobs, homes and regeneration.

“However, the cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham has significantly impacted Cheshire East, particularly Crewe, and the council had invested substantial money into supporting the scheme and the Crewe Hub programme.

“It is crucial that these efforts are not overlooked in future rail plans and that Crewe station receives the type of investment that can match up to its credentials as one of the most important interchanges on the UK rail network.”

View the full report and recommendations to committee.