A new plan would mean the town would get a boost (Image: Getty)
Campaigners have set out what they believe must be the “minimum viable scope and cost” of after the project was vastly scaled back. The railway will only operate between and Birmingham under current plans. But the (HSRG) has said that it needs to be reworked to a “Euston-Crewe core”, involving a ” scaled-back, cost-effective” Euston terminus.
The Government stated in 2022 stated that, for the then still planned Phase 2a of the project, from Birmingham to Crewe in Cheshire, the overall cost range was £5.2billion to £7.2billion. In 2024, then Prime Minister cancelled the high speed line between the West Midlands and the northern town, as well as Phase 2b between the northern town and Manchester.
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Campaigners say HS2 needs to go from Birmingham to the north (Image: Getty)
Carol Mellor, 71, told the after Mr Sunak’s axeing of the leg: “The railway was what kept this town running. It’s a complete waste of money if they pull HS2 now.”
On the town as a whole, she added: “It’s gone a mess, there is nothing here.
“Crewe has been forgotten.”
Independent Cheshire East councillor Craig Browne, told the Guardian: “We feel ignored and we feel forgotten.”
He added that the cancellation of the northern section of the line was “a sad day”.
Paul Colman, chief executive of the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, described the move as an “utter disgrace”.
Now, campaigners have suggested that the fast railway to Crewe should be revitalised.
Dyan Perry, Chair of HSRG, said: “HS2 is at a crossroads. If delivered correctly, it will unlock national transport capacity, generate a multi-billion pound return to the Treasury, drive economic growth across the UK and enhance regional connectivity.
“However, if cut short, the Government risks wasting substantial investments to date, short-changing the national account and squandering HS2’s far reaching socio-economic benefits.”
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Residents have said that Crewe feels ‘forgotten’ (Image: Getty)
She added: “HS2 has already stimulated significant investment in the UK’s supply chain, workforce skills, and infrastructure expertise to name just a few benefits.
“To secure the long-term advantages of a modern, high speed rail network, we strongly urge the Government to adopt our recommendations and take decisive action to restore financial control and accelerate delivery.
“By investing in our infrastructure now, we set the UK up for long term growth and economic success.”
In January, it was revealed that ministers are looking at a “realistic pipeline of schemes” to link HS2 to destinations north of Birmingham.
The Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Commons that Labour last year found a “ragtag collection of half-baked, unfunded spending commitments for rail schemes up and down the country” after they won the general election.