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HS2 debate in Parliament highlights economic benefits of a regional rail hub at Crewe

Chester MP Chris Matheson led a debate in parliament yesterday about the benefits of HS2 to the North West economy.
He highlighted that a regional rail hub at Crewe would extend the benefits of the new line to 1.5 million people across the North West and North Wales, reducing their travel time to London by an hour.
During the debate, ahead of the Government’s announcement of its proposals for HS2 Phase Two, Mr Matheson made the case for a hub at Crewe, in line with the findings of Sir David Higgin’s HS2 Plus report and work undertaken by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), explaining the role that the hub would play in revitalising the Northern economy.
He stressed that its location at the heart of the North West rail system, with lines radiating towards Manchester, Liverpool, Stoke, Derby, Warrington, and on to Lancashire, Scotland and Shrewsbury in mid-Wales as well as Chester, North Wales and the Wirral, would enable all of these places to enjoy the benefits of the huge investment the nation is making in the new line.
He said: “By linking such improvements into the services radiating out from a proper rail hub at Crewe, we can offer even more people in Cheshire, north Wales and Merseyside the benefits of the journey time improvements that HS2 provides.
“It is important for me to work with the LEP and local businesses to get the best deal for businesses and enterprise in our area.”
He added that HS2 needs to be recognised as a truly national project that should have truly national benefits. Read more