HS2 Ltd, the company designing and building Britain’s new zero carbon high speed rail network, is encouraging communities to find out more about the latest proposals for the railway in their local area.
In January 2022, HS2 submitted the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill to Parliament, seeking powers to construct and operate a new section of the high speed network between Crewe and Manchester. This extension of the railway will include new high-speed stations at Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly, as well as providing the critical infrastructure required for future Northern Powerhouse Rail services.
As designs for the railway continue to develop, some further changes are now being proposed to the Bill. HS2 is encouraging people to drop in at their local information event so that they can talk them through the proposed changes in their area and respond to any questions. The updated information can also be viewed online at hs2.org.uk/in-your-area/local-community-webpages/ and HS2’s Helpdesk team is available all day, every day for both telephone and email enquiries.
Public events are being held at locations between Crewe and Manchester and in Annandale, Scotland on the following dates:
| Date and time | This event is for people who live in/between: | Venue |
| Monday 20 June, 14:00 – 20:00 | Hulsehealth to Manchester Airport | Best Western Manchester Altrincham Cresta Court Hotel, Church Street, Altrincham, WA14 4DP |
| Tuesday 21 June, 14:00 – 20:00 | Broomedge to Glazebrook | Lymm Village Hall, Pepper Street, Lymm, WA13 0JB |
| Thursday 23 June, 14:00 – 20:00 | Annandale | Stormont Hall, Gretna Green, Gretna, DG16 5HY |
| Tuesday 28 June, 14:00 – 20:00 | Wimboldsley to Lostock Gralam | Middlewich Community Church, Canalside Conference Centre, 34-36 Brooks Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0JG |
| Thursday 30 June, 14:00 – 20:00 | Pickmere to Agden and Hulseheath | High Legh Village Hall, West Lane, Knutsford, WA16 6LR |
| Saturday 2 July, 12:00-17:00 | Risley to Bamfurlong | Culcheth High School, Warrington Road, Culcheth, Warrington WA3 5HH |
| Tuesday 5 July, 14:00 – 20:00 | Hough to Walley’s Green | The Mornflake Stadium, Gresty Road, Crewe CW2 6EB |
| Saturday 16 July, 12:00 – 17:00 | Davenport Green to Ardwick | MEA Central, Lytham Road, Manchester, M14 6PL |
Jack Day, Senior Engagement Manager at HS2 said:
“Our engagement events have enabled communities to play an important role in shaping the designs for the new railway, and we welcome the opportunity to talk to people face to face about these latest changes.
“Designs for the railway will continue to develop during the Parliamentary process and we are committed to keeping people informed.”
HS2’s construction is is already underway between London and Crewe, supporting almost 25,000 jobs and helping over 2,500 UK businesses to flourish as they provide the materials, workforce and resources required to support HS2’s vast construction programme.
Extending HS2 to the North West will ease pressure on the existing rail network by unlocking space for more local and regional passenger trains and freight services. As the new high speed network is constructed, it will change the economic geography of the country and help towns and cities in the Midlands and the North to thrive. Better connecting the UK’s biggest centres of economic activity will enable people to access more and better jobs, as well as taking advantage of the 17,500 jobs that construction of the new North West network is forecast to create.
Photo credit: HS2 Ltd
