Connected

The recognition of a wellintegrated and high-quality highspeed Crewe Hub by Government is indeed good news for those in the Crewe area, and for those who can easily get there.

From the Knutsford area it’s a 40-50 minute drive (on a good day) of around 20 miles to Crewe.

Then it’s a matter of parking the car, paying the (not cheap) parking charges and walking to the station.

That’s well over an hour and only for those with access to a car (or taxi – much more expensive).

By public transport, Knutsford to Crewe by train (change at Stockport) takes around one hour and 20 minutes.

There has been a campaign running for over 20 years to reopen the line between Northwich and Crewe currently used by freight trains and diverted passenger trains to regular passenger trains, this to connect Knutsford (and Northwich) to Crewe in 30-40 minutes.

Three studies have been carried out, all suggesting reopening the line for regular services would be good value for money. Having easy access to the Crewe Hub is important to our local economy.

Not only will it allow us to use the Hub, but just as important it will make it easy for those from elsewhere to access Knutsford and surrounding areas to come here, spend their money and generate jobs locally.

Can Cllr Bailey let us know what our council is doing to ensure this part of Cheshire East (and for those in the Northwich area) is going to be well connected by public transport to the Crewe Hub before HS2 opens?

John Oates Mobberley