HS2 will bring real transformational change to North Wales’ says Wales secretary Stephen Crabb as Chancellor announces Crewe link will open 6 years early

Chancellor George Osborne confirmed today that the high speed rail link connecting the West Midlands to Crewe will open six years ahead of schedule in 2027.

For North Wales the planned hub station at Crewe will provide access to high speed passenger services and unlock new employment and business opportunities in the region.

Set to considerably slash journey times and increase capacity on busy railways, this new route has long been billed as a significant catalyst for driving growth and rebalancing regional economies across the country.

North east Wales and north west England form one single economic entity and HS2 will foster even closer integration.

Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said:

The announcement that the HS2 link between West Midlands and Crewe will open six years earlier than planned could bring real transformational change to North Wales’ economic prospects.

This line will act as the gateway to the Northern Powerhouse, which stretches from North Wales to Newcastle, bringing with it new employment and business opportunities.

But the vision goes even further. Increased demand as a result of HS2 will also help strengthen the business case for modernisation of the North Wales lines. The Wales Office is working closely with local authorities and business groups in North Wales to develop this case, as part of our central ambition to build a stronger economy for the whole of the UK.