A longer tunnel south of Crewe, revised connections to the West Coast Main Line and a relocated construction railhead are planned for Phase 2a of High Speed 2 (HS2), which will run from the West Midlands to Crewe and open in 2027. The changes are detailed in the Design Refinement Consultation, issued on September 13.
The proposed tunnel under Crewe will be extended south by around 2,100m, with the tunnel portal re-sited south of the A500 and Weston Lane. This will mean less disruption to the West Coast Main Line and Basford Hall yard, as well as fewer road closures. The Department for Transport has concluded that it will be significantly simpler to build and will reduce the visual intrusion of the railway while costing around the same as the current plan.
- For more on this, read RAIL 810, published on September 28.
- For more on the HS2 Public Accounts Committee report, read RAIL 810, published on September 28.
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Moomo - 20/09/2016 10:06
If Crewe is to be a meaningful "hub", surely it makes sense to dispense with the tunnel and ensure that all high speed trains have the option of passing through the station. Yes, this will mean a minor slowing down of the fastest trains, but it would hugely increase the frequency and availability of seats. After all, we mustn't forget that HS2 is all about "capacity and connectivity".
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