Rail minister, Huw Merriman has reconfirmed the Government's commitment to the HS2 project Phase 2b.

Phase 2b is scheduled to connect Crewe to Manchester with the planned extension critical to the development of the Crewe Hub.

Speaking to the House of Commons, Mr Merriman said: "We are absolutely committed to delivering HS2 trains from London to Manchester and, of course, going over to the east as well."

Huw Merriman MP was speaking about HS2 in the House of Commons (Image - Gov)

However, after a question from shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh about reports of the government trying to "slash" the costs of the project, Mr Merriman admitted that "cost pressures" must be examined.

He said: "We have to look at cost pressures, it's absolutely right that HS2 focuses on costs, that should be expected of the Government and the taxpayer, and we'll continue to do so.

"But I can tell her I am absolutely committed, as is the Secretary of State (Mark Harper) and the entire department, to delivering HS2 and the benefits for this country."

However, the cost of the project, originally estimated to cost £33bn is expected to balloon to £71bn and HS2 CEO, Mark Thurston told the BBC, they were working with the Government on cost.

Mr Thurston said: "We're looking at a number of options with the Department for Transport."

He added: "We're looking at the timing of the project, the phasing of the project, we're looking at where we can use our supply chain to secure a lot of those things that are costing us more through inflation."

HS2 Phase 2b will be the catalyst b and the regeneration of Crewe town centre, and the Crewe Hub aims to be a commercial hub which HS2 Ltd. believes will help create 37,000 new jobs in the area alongside 7,000 new homes.

Artist impression of Crewe Railway Station entrance from Weston Road (Image - Cheshire East Council)

The importance of the HS2 project to Crewe and Cheshire, in general, was reiterated by Philip Cox, the Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership when speaking to Cheshire Business Nub a few weeks ago.

"The opportunities for HS2 begin at Crewe, with the hub helping links to Chester and Wales and provides much quicker routes to Manchester also.

"Crewe is in a wonderful position, enabling many to get in and out of the county quicker, which in turn, makes other areas attractive for development., Mr Cox said.

"It will bring benefits to the whole of Cheshire, I'm sure" he added.

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