UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed that plans for HS2 Phase 2a from the West Midlands to Crewe will be modified to include platform extensions and a re-designed junction at Crewe to give more people access to HS2. Modifications entail the extension of Platform 5 at Crewe to 400 metres, a more efficient design for the proposed platform on the Manchester independent lines, a change to the design of the southern connection from HS2, so that HS2 joins, and takes over, the central 2 lines on the existing network.
These modifications will unlock significant benefits for Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent, allowing more people to access high speed, long distance services. Combined with a HS2 junction north of Crewe (which will be considered as part of Phase 2b), this could allow 5 to 7 HS2 trains per hour to call at Crewe and improve connectivity on the lines from Crewe to Shrewsbury, Chester and Stoke-on-Trent (subject in some cases to further investment beyond Crewe itself).
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling also intends to ask the franchise operator, West Coast Partnership, to include a high-speed service to Stoke-on-Trent in its market development and service plans.
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