New rail services planned via Crewe after HS2 cancellation | Local News | News

Plans for new rail services between London Euston and Manchester via Crewe have been unveiled, following the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2.

Operator London Northwestern Railway is looking to extend its existing services, which run between London Euston and Crewe, to Manchester Victoria, via the West Midlands.

The proposals to be submitted aim to use the same track space on the West Coast Main Line for which Virgin Trains and Lumo have announced open access tenders.

London Northwestern Railway is also proposing to launch trains to Manchester Airport, extending its existing service between Stafford and Crewe (Ryan Parker).

The decision on which services can run, including the route via Crewe, will be made by the Department for Transport and the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

If London Northwestern Railway’s proposal is approved, new direct services from Rugeley, Lichfield, Tamworth and Atherstone in the West Midlands to Manchester city centre and Warrington would be introduced from summer 2026.

The rail provider is also proposing to start running trains to Manchester Airport, extending its existing service between Stafford and Crewe.

London Northwestern Railway Managing Director Ian McConnell said: “This proposal puts passengers at the heart of the railway and is the common sense solution to increasing connectivity between the North West and the West Midlands following the cancellation of the northern section of HS2.

“With platform space at Euston at a premium, the best way to deliver new travel opportunities in Manchester is to simply extend existing services, rather than trying to squeeze more trains onto the already congested West Coast Main Line.

London Northwestern Railway Managing Director, Ian McConnell (London Northwestern Railway).

“Furthermore, unlike the open access model, the millions of pounds of additional revenue our proposals would generate will be returned to the taxpayer, providing a win-win situation for rail passengers.

“Just as we have demonstrated with our existing long-distance services to Birmingham and Liverpool, our new green, environmentally friendly electric trains will provide an affordable alternative to car and coach travel, with fares up to 50% cheaper than the main intercity operator.”

Most train operators in England, including London Northwestern Railway, receive a management fee, with the UK government responsible for costs and revenue.

Open access operators do not receive any taxpayer-funded subsidies and thus bear all revenue risks.

London Northwestern Railway’s announcements come after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the northern section of HS2 last October.

HS2 would have seen between five and seven high-speed trains stopping at Crewe per hour (Ryan Parker).

It plans to formally submit its plans to the ORR later this year.

HS2 would have seen between five and seven high-speed trains stopping at Crewe per hour.

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