LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
DfT has published a consultation document on 3 major changes to the HS2a route at Crewe and Stone.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ign-refinement-consultation-print-version.pdf
The first two changes are to simplify the construction work and avoid rebuilding the A500 viaduct and other roads, also to lower the new line in the environment.
The third is to put the construction/maintenance depot roughly in the centre of the HS2a extension.
It will be between the HS2 and M6 alignments at the point they cross the Norton Bridge-Stone railway, which will be used for access from the classic railway to the HS2a route.
It will remove the large-scale construction of a similar depot at Crewe, which has issues like demolishing a housing estate in course of construction.
It can also access both halves of HS2a, and might remove the need for maintenance loops elsewhere.
The introduction to the consultation by Chris Grayling indicates his full support for HS2, if anybody had any doubt.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ign-refinement-consultation-print-version.pdf
In summary, the three proposed changes are:
1. south of Crewe, to extend the Crewe tunnel shown in the November 2015 design south by approximately 2100m and re-site the tunnel portal south of the A500 and Weston Lane;
2. south of Crewe to move the spur lines that connect HS2 to the WCML further south and to extend their length;
3. near Stone, to build a temporary construction facility (railhead) in-between the proposed HS2 route and the M6, which has the potential to subsequently become a permanent maintenance facility to replace the Infrastructure Maintenance Depot (IMD) currently shown at Crewe. This proposed change has been included for consultation because of the potential for a permanent facility at the site. Further studies will be carried out to consider the location and the facilities to be included in the proposed scheme and the outcome of these studies will be reported in the formal EIA Report.
The first two changes are to simplify the construction work and avoid rebuilding the A500 viaduct and other roads, also to lower the new line in the environment.
The third is to put the construction/maintenance depot roughly in the centre of the HS2a extension.
It will be between the HS2 and M6 alignments at the point they cross the Norton Bridge-Stone railway, which will be used for access from the classic railway to the HS2a route.
It will remove the large-scale construction of a similar depot at Crewe, which has issues like demolishing a housing estate in course of construction.
It can also access both halves of HS2a, and might remove the need for maintenance loops elsewhere.
The introduction to the consultation by Chris Grayling indicates his full support for HS2, if anybody had any doubt.