'Will new rail line pull into Crewe?

After much uncertainty, the government has announced the construction of a new rail line between Manchester and Birmingham will actually go ahead.

The northern leg of HS2 was scrapped by the previous Tory administration and Crewe in Cheshire was seen as one of the big losers because of the decision.

So is a planned new rail line - even if there's no guarantee at this stage it would call at Crewe - welcomed by those in the area?

Intrinsically linked with the railways, Crewe blossomed through the original development of the nation's rail network.

The opening of Crewe Works in 1843 saw it grow from a small village to a bustling town, with thousands of people employed at the manufacturing and engineering site at its peak.

These links are still key to the town's identity, with a number of firms in the rail industry with sites in the area. Even the town's football club, Crewe Alexandra, remain nicknamed the Railwaymen.

Crewe and Nantwich's MP Connor Naismith describes the announcement as "fantastic news."

"This is a major step in the right direction," he told BBC Radio Stoke, describing Crewe as the "biggest loser" from the decision to cancel the northern leg of HS2.

It remains unclear whether the new link would include a stop in town.

"I'll be making the case that if we are to deliver any successor for HS2, the government is clear this is not an extension of HS2, I will be making the case - and I already have - that Crewe is imperative," Naismith said.

"There would be no point in trying to deliver a rail link between Birmingham and Manchester that doesn't stop at Crewe if your ambition is to deliver economic growth.

Naismith stressed that Crewe is the only town on the rail network that provides direct access to "to all four corners of our great country".

The local council echoes the Labour MP's views on the inclusion of Crewe, also describing the announcement as "positive".

"Our position remains clear - Crewe must be placed at the heart of any future rail plans," said the leaders of Cheshire East Council.

"We will therefore continue to make the case for meaningful investment at Crewe Station, direct connectivity benefits for Crewe and other Cheshire East stations, and a firm commitment that any Birmingham–Manchester link will run through Crewe station rather than bypass it – the latter would be a devastating outcome for the town," they said.

They added this would be "essential" for the area to "secure the replacement benefits lost with the cancellation of HS2".

Representatives of the business community have a similar view.

Paul Colman, the chief executive of the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, said a new link not coming to Crewe would be "madness".

"Speaking to rail officials and stakeholders, Crewe's 360 connectivity means it will be nonsensical not to go through Crewe," he said.

It will come down to cost, he added, but said the economic benefits of the route going through Crewe were "clear to see".

In recent years, I have spent many days speaking to people in Crewe about a new rail link and what it could mean for the town.

From support to cynicism, there has always been a wide range of views - although many told me they think it would be a positive step to bring more investment into a town centre that has struggled in recent years.

On a frosty morning on Victoria Street, the latest news was warmly greeted by some.

"It's a great idea," said Mr Lees, from Sandbach, with his wife adding it is "not before time".

"Several governments have been promising it and it just makes sense," he adds.

"Why come up from London as far as Birmingham, and say, 'sod the rest above it'?

Meanwhile, Rebecca hoped it might bring more people and businesses into the town.

"The town has got to the state it's in now because of the axing of HS2, she says.

"We had all the infrastructure ready to be built and they left because it didn't happen."

Her friend sees another side to it.

"There's nothing here, so it'd be helpful to get to other places," she said.

But there are concerns from others.

"Do they promise anything and carry on with it?" one lady told me. "You don't believe them half the time".

And with no financial details known yet, that is another worry.

"Is it worth how much money it's going to cost?" asks another lady.

"With HS2, the prices are rocketing and is it really going to be that much benefit on how much it's going to cost?"

At this stage, we don't know what this will mean for Crewe.

But it is fair to say this government announcement means there will be more discussion for months on what this could mean for businesses, residents and travellers.

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