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HS2 Phase 2a recieves Royal Assent

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Ianno87

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MPs have today (Thursday 11 February 2021) given the go-ahead to the next phases of Britain’s high speed rail network, with the Bill approving the building of HS2 Phase 2A north from the West Midlands to Crewe achieving Royal Assent.

Parliament’s approval for this new phase of HS2 plugs the line into one of the country’s principal rail hubs in Crewe. It also means the 58km (36miles) route will be built earlier than originally planned, enabling towns and cities across north western England, north Wales and Scotland to benefit sooner, with the opening now planned to coincide with Phase One between London and the West Midlands.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said:

“Today is a landmark moment in our infrastructure revolution. HS2 is the most significant expansion to our national railways in a generation – transforming connectivity between our towns and cities and vastly increasing the capacity of our rail network. By proceeding full steam ahead, we are delivering on our commitment to unite and level up the country.

“The construction of Phase 2a will support thousands of jobs and create opportunities for local businesses as we build back better.”

Today’s decision means HS2 is set to deliver another major economic boost to UK PLC, by supporting around 5,000 jobs to build Phase 2a, with many more in the supply chain. In addition, the railway will support 140 permanent jobs at its maintenance base near Stone in Staffordshire.

Welcoming the decision, HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston said:

“Parliament’s approval for extending HS2 beyond the West Midlands to the North is a clear sign that MPs recognise the enormous potential of this scheme and continue to give their strong support.

“As the first major railway built in the North for over 100 years, HS2 will spur massive economic growth for our towns and cities, help to level up the country, and provide cleaner, greener public transport for millions. As construction starts, this new phase of work will very quickly support 5,000 jobs in the North, with many more in the supply chain, further cementing HS2’s critical role in Britain’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”

Once operational, high speed services operating between London, Birmingham and Crewe will use the newly-constructed high speed line – delivering extra capacity, improved reliability and reducing journey times. These services will then join the existing network to create direct services to places including Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. Crewe is also the station for connections to North Wales and Shrewsbury.

Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Crewe & Nantwich said:

“Extending the HS2 line to Crewe is a major step towards levelling-up the north. It is crucial to bringing new jobs and opportunities to our town and for creating better local rail connections as we free up the currently overly congested line West Coast Main Line. This reaffirms Crewe’s status at the heart of the rail network and just as we were a crucial part of the previous rail revolution, HS2 will cement our place as a vital part of the next.”

Passenger services will start between HS2’s stations at London Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street between 2029-33. Phase 2a’s opening will be aligned with the London – Birmingham route.

Sara Williams, CEO of Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce said:

“HS2 brings potential benefits for Staffordshire businesses, both now and in the future. Extending the high speed line northwards will generate thousands of contract opportunities for local businesses of all sizes and their involvement will provide a vital boost for the Staffordshire economy in the years ahead.”

The first phase of HS2 between London and the West Midlands is already well underway, with the start of construction announced by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in September 2020. There are 240 sites now active along the Phase One route, employing over 13,000 people and over 400 apprenticeships, with tens of thousands more jobs supported through the supply chain. Almost 2,000 companies have worked on the project to date, with 98% of them based in Britain.

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Roast Veg

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Fingers crossed for phase 2b in full. It seems simultaneously very likely to be approved in the west and yet at high risk in the east.
 

Glenn1969

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Good news. Hopefully news on Manchester and what they are going to do for the East Midlands and Leeds won't be too far behind
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Good news. Hopefully news on Manchester and what they are going to do for the East Midlands and Leeds won't be too far behind
The Phase 2b bill(s) is/are a long way from even reaching parliament.
The commitment was always to speed the Phase 2a process through parliament so it can be constructed in the same timescale as Phase 1.
 

Glenn1969

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It will bring advantages for the North West but surely do nothing for the East Midlands and Yorkshire/NE if the eastern leg is not built
 

AM9

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Which will bring advantages to the North/Northwest sooner. Hopefully reduce some airplane flights between London and Manchester too. Every bit helps
Maybe somebody will take the trouble to tell the tunnellers under the park in front of Euston Station. :)
 

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The Phase 2b bill(s) is/are a long way from even reaching parliament.
The commitment was always to speed the Phase 2a process through parliament so it can be constructed in the same timescale as Phase 1.
The 'Design Refinement Consultation' for the Western Leg closed two months ago. At the time it was published, this suggested that there was to be a High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill sooner rather than later. There are three years until the General Election to look at getting that through.
 

Class 170101

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Does this actually come with any money though or still subject to Treasury confirming the funding?
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Does this actually come with any money though or still subject to Treasury confirming the funding?
This is what the Railway Gazette says:
Royal Assent for Phase 2a takes High Speed 2 to Crewe | Rail Business UK | Railway Gazette International
Project promoter HS2 Ltd can now start environmental works along the route of Phase 2a, with construction expected to begin by 2024.

I'd expect enabling works to start soon, as was the case for Phase 1 before the full go-ahead was given.
The Chancellor might say more at budget time next month.
Some of the Phase 1 contracts are specified and let as one project, with Phase 2a as a second phase.
 

Starmill

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While the Treasury are well-known for shenanigans, it's unlikely that even they would refuse to pay the bills for something that has already cost so much to get consent in place for.
 

deltic

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The Phase 2b bill(s) is/are a long way from even reaching parliament.
The commitment was always to speed the Phase 2a process through parliament so it can be constructed in the same timescale as Phase 1.
The Bill for the Manchester leg is due to be presented to Parliament by the end of this year
 

hwl

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Does this actually come with any money though or still subject to Treasury confirming the funding?
This is what the Railway Gazette says:
Royal Assent for Phase 2a takes High Speed 2 to Crewe | Rail Business UK | Railway Gazette International


I'd expect enabling works to start soon, as was the case for Phase 1 before the full go-ahead was given.
The Chancellor might say more at budget time next month.
Some of the Phase 1 contracts are specified and let as one project, with Phase 2a as a second phase.
The overall funding envelope is agreed for HS2 but at just ~£3.7bn for Phase 2a no one is really going quibble that much. It also helps the rolling stock situation.

Most of 2a is much more easily actionable than most phase 1 as it is much more green field with minimal urban and negligible woodland impact.
 

Starmill

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Perhaps the most important thing to recognise here is that opening from London Euston HS2, at 10 services per hour, is not being targeted until December 2031. Readers will note that this is some 10 3/4 years from now! A staged opening with no services from London Euston HS2 could occur up to two years earlier. It is not anticipated that the Old Oak Common services however will permit capacity release into the London Euston from a timetable perspective. There will be a further exercise to determine how many services can turn at Old Oak Common from December 2029 but it's likely to be three Birmingham, one Glasgow, one Liverpool and one Manchester. This would entail as noted three Birmingham Curzon Street services and seven to elsewhere, although only the former were shown as calling at Birmingham Interchange in the 2020 Full Business Case.

Now the 'full Y' model timetable included two services from Birmingham Curzon Street to Manchester Piccadilly HS2 calling at Manchester Airport HS2 and one to Edinburgh and Glasgow in alternative hours. It furthermore envisaged one Manchester to London train calling at Birmingham Interchange and one Edinburgh & Glasgow to London train calling at Birmingham Interchange.

I would also be interested in next week's lottery numbers from anyone who is able to claim with such certainty that the December 2031 timetable will involve under or over serving any particular destination.
 

Bald Rick

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The overall funding envelope is agreed for HS2 but at just ~£3.7bn for Phase 2a no one is really going quibble that much. It also helps the rolling stock situation.

Most of 2a is much more easily actionable than most phase 1 as it is much more green field with minimal urban and negligible woodland impact.

Exactly. Only two tunnels - both fairly short; a few viaducts as well. But good access to the site throughout. I’d be surprised if it took more than 6 years to build once vacant possession is secured.

 

andreading

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During the expansion of the Tram to the airport an interchange was proposed at Southmoor Rd, Baguley on the Altrincham-Stockport route. The tram stop is in place. This would allow Cheshire residents and Stockport residents to change onto the Tram to the airport /HS2 terminal. This is still simpler and cheaper than 4 new platforms on the same railway and the airport line close to the M56/M60 Junction in north Gatley which would be a purely rail to rail interchange. Its also cheaper and quicker than a western rail or tram access to the airport from the Altrincham - Mobberley route with additional junctions and tunnels.
 

yorkie

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Just a gentle reminder that this thread is in the Infrastructure & Stations section, not the Speculative Ideas section :)

I've moved @daodao's speculative post (and the replies it generated) into the appropriate section: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/potential-hs2-services.214085/

We do welcome speculative posts to be posted; we just ask that they are posted in the correct place, that's all. Many thanks!
 
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LNW-GW Joint

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There's the infrastructure depot at Stone to build (in the angle between HS2 and the M6), which might be where they will start.
There will be rail access from the Stone-Norton Bridge line, so a new junction will be needed there.

The 5 miles or so south of Crewe will be quite complex with the WCML junction and grade separation stretching past Basford Hall.
The two routes cross south of Madeley, just at the point where the old Stoke-Market Drayton line goes over the WCML.
The other rail crossing is of the Stoke-Colwich line (and the River Trent) north of Colwich, more or less at a right angle.
 
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The Planner

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There's the infrastructure depot at Stone to build (in the angle between HS2 and the M6), which might be where they will start.
There will be rail access from the Stone-Norton Bridge line, so a new junction will be needed there.

The 5 miles or so south of Crewe will be quite complex with the WCML junction and grade separation stretching past Basford Hall.
The two routes cross south of Madeley, just at the point where the old Stoke-Market Drayton line goes over the WCML.
The other rail crossing is of the Stoke-Colwich line (and the River Trent) north of Colwich, more or less at a right angle.
Access will be off a siding on the Norton Bridge to Stone line. Basford Hall is actually fairly straightforward, build the deviation with the HS2 bridge, connect it up, do the other side.
 

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Access will be off a siding on the Norton Bridge to Stone line. Basford Hall is actually fairly straightforward, build the deviation with the HS2 bridge, connect it up, do the other side.

This siding does this already exist or is it a new siding?

If its a new one then there wil need to be possessions to connect it to the mainline and commission it.
 

The Planner

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This siding does this already exist or is it a new siding?

If its a new one then there wil need to be possessions to connect it to the mainline and commission it.
New, just needs some weekend possessions for putting in the S&C and signalling changes as you say, not a big deal.
 
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