Council urges Prime Minister to back Birmingham to Manchester rail link through Crewe

Cheshire East Council has called on the new Prime Minister to re-commit to a Birmingham to Manchester rail link – with Crewe at its heart.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Andy Burnham this week, the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, councillors Nick Mannion and Michael Gorman, highlighted the strategic importance of Crewe as one of the UK's most significant rail hubs and called on the government to support a package of transport and regeneration projects centred on the town.

Urging the Prime Minister to give the ‘green light’ to the new rail link – previously planned to be delivered through HS2 Phase 2a and 2b – ahead of the Labour Party Conference, they said it ‘would signal a renewed commitment to a high-speed rail network that joins up the country and drives economic growth across the UK’.

Cllrs Mannion and Gorman have also called for the Government to show support for the council’s A500 to Crewe Station Corridor Scheme and further investment in Crewe Station.

These investments would be key to supporting a future Birmingham to Manchester link and much needed freight and passenger capacity on the West Coast Main Line, as well as the authority’s Greater Crewe vision – having the potential to triple the size of the Crewe economy by 2050.  

The letter goes on to say:

“Backing these projects now and more formally in the Autumn Statement would build on previous investment and help address the current gap in the rail network that ends in a ‘cul de sac’ at Handsacre, just north of Birmingham.

“Crewe is one of the UK's most important rail hubs, connecting the North West, Midlands, Wales, Scotland and London. Investment in Crewe would improve rail capacity, reliability and connectivity across the national network.

“It would also support our wider Greater Crewe vision. This includes other rail improvements, investments linked to the new £1.4 billion hospital at Leighton, new housing at scale including affordable homes, employment land, town centre regeneration and the potential creation of a sustainable new community city around Crewe Station.

“Together, these projects could become one of the North West's most important growth opportunities and help deliver the Government's ambition for growth across the country.”

The leader and deputy leader are also writing to the Prime Minister’s new Cabinet members to set out the case for a Brimingham to Manchester rail link via Crewe and to highlight the town's role in supporting the Government's growth ambitions.

Cllrs Mannion and Gorman said:

“Crewe has a vital role to play in supporting economic growth across the North and Midlands. The building blocks are already in place and the council, Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority and partners are ready to deliver.

“Significant work and investment has already been carried out on the Birmingham to Crewe rail corridor and the new Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority gives us the opportunity to bring these ambitions together, and accelerate delivery, through our Greater Crewe vision.

“We are urging the Prime Minister to seize this opportunity and back a package of projects that would deliver benefits locally, regionally and nationally.”