John Fraser
Posts by John Fraser:
HS2 Phase 2 Cancelled
SRCG statement: Response to Prime Minister’s decision to scrap HS2 Phase 2
SRCG welcomes Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap Phase 2 of the HS2 project, which was announced during his speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Wednesday 4th October.
The decision will save over £36 billion of public money, which will now be more wisely invested in better targeted transport infrastructure projects across the UK to truly serve the needs of communities and level up the country.
Phase 2 will essentially be replaced by Phase 1+, which was devised by SRCG and communicated to the Government with the help of our local MPs.
Phase 1+ utilises HS2 Phase One and its connection to the West Coast Mainline via the Handsacre link. This will enable HS2 trains to serve Manchester and all other West Coast destinations north of Birmingham in greater numbers than could be achieved by HS2 Ltd’s ill-conceived proposals for Phase 2 which, contrary to the misleading claims of HS2 Ltd and its cheerleaders, would have decimated rail capacity and connectivity at Crewe.
HS2 Phase 2 would have led to a reduction of inter-city rail services to 75% of West Coast destinations as well as a 60% cut in express trains calling at Crewe Station and a halving of services to Stoke-on-Trent. This will now be avoided following the Prime Minister’s brave decision to ignore the vested interests who have made a fortune from the HS2 project.
SRCG would like to thank Stone Town Council, Yarnfield & Cold Meece Parish Council and Chebsey Parish Council, together with our supporters within the locality and beyond for having faith in our work over the last seven years.
Very special thanks also go to our local MPs, Sir Bill Cash, Jack Brereton and Sir Gavin Williamson, together with Charles Boote, without whom this staggeringly successful outcome could not have been achieved.
Please join us on Monday 20th November 2023 at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre at 7pm to hear the full story of how the disastrous HS2 train crash was averted.
Stone Railhead Crisis Group
5th October 2023