Key Facts

• The High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill, also known as phase 2a of HS2, extends the railway from Birmingham to Crewe.
• Over 300 petitions were received during the Select Committee stage, leading to two additional provisions being promoted and agreed upon in spring 2019.
• Siemens is investing £250 million to establish a new rail factory in Goole.
• HS2 costs have risen from £57 billion to £80 billion and are rumoured to exceed £100 billion.
• Carillion received a valuable HS2 contract despite its financial difficulties.
• The Oakervee review recommends HS2 as an integrated part of the railway system, extending to northern cities and Scotland.
• Phase 1 of HS2 received Royal Assent in February 2017 but has not progressed due to budget issues.
• The proposed phase 2a is estimated to cost £6.6 billion.
• Sir John Armitt will review phase 2b with terms of reference already provided.
• Phase 2a would connect HS2 to the west coast main line further north at Blakenhall, south of Crewe.
• The motion seeks revival of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill.
• Crewe is a railway town with significant expertise in the rail industry.
• HS2 is expected to create thousands of skilled jobs in Crewe during construction.
• Network Rail estimates that delivering capacity increases through weekend closures would take almost 30 years and result in less benefit than HS2.
• The cost of HS2 is approximately £4.4 billion per year over two decades.
• Network Rail spends around £6 billion annually on maintaining and upgrading the rail network.
• Mr and Mrs Tabernor have been waiting years for a resolution regarding their farmhouse demolition.
• Ingestre Park Golf Club has not received a reasonable agreement from HS2 after five years of negotiations.
• House sales in Hopton, Marston and Yarlet are in limbo due to unresolved compensation claims.
• The Prime Minister acknowledged the need for compensation payment and an overhaul of HS2 Ltd's management.
• HS2 is facing opposition due to inadequate compensation and delays.
• Laing supports the Government's infrastructure plans but emphasizes the need for immediate resolution of issues affecting her constituents.
• She seeks assurance on delivering promised compensation to residents impacted by HS2.
• The Prime Minister has committed to getting a firm grip on the HS2 project.
• An additional £500 million Beeching reversal fund has been officially launched.
• The Government intends to invest heavily in bringing back rail routes and stations across all parts of the UK.
• The Prime Minister stated on 11 February that treatment of people and communities by HS2 Ltd must improve.
• Landowners are required to receive 90% of HS2 Ltd’s valuation within three months of receiving a claim or date of possession, whichever is later.
• The latest cost estimate for the full network is between £72 billion and £98 billion in 2019 prices.
• The Government is spending £48 billion between 2019 and 2024 on the conventional rail network.