A plan for a new railway to replace the axed sections of HS2 to Crewe and Manchester is being published today by the mayors of the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. The proposal is for an 80km line between Lichfield and High Legh, which is near Warrington and just south of the M56 motorway. At this point it would join the Northern Powerhouse network. The scheme is the result of work chaired by former Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins, led by Arup and also involving a private sector consortium. The mayors say the new line would cost 60 to 75 per cent of HS2, and allow speeds of up to 300km/h.
