NETWORK NORTH
The Prime Minister has announced Network North - setting aside £12billion for links between Liverpool-Manchester to ensure the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail and then investing £36billion in hundreds of projects in towns, cities and rural areas across our whole country, and in roads, rail, and buses–investment on a truly unprecedented scale that will drive economic growth and provide jobs.
Key for Hazel Grove is the electrification and upgrade of the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield.
This comes on top of the £145million capacity upgrade which is already under construction.
Journeys will be faster and more frequent, with travel between Manchester and Sheffield being reduced from 51 to 42 mins.
Taken together, this will double capacity on the line and increase fast trains from 2 to 3 trains per hour.
Crucially, this will also see a huge improvement in reliability and allow for more freight trains, helping to reduce reliance on HGVs.
This is brilliant news for passengers in Woodley, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple, Rose Hill, and Strines. It’s also great for the whole constituency, Manchester, Sheffield and the wider region.
Under HS2, Stockport was going to be bypassed. Under Network North, Stockport will now be on the main HS2 route from London to Manchester, with trains reaching Euston in 1hr 32 mins, about 25 mins faster than now.
"This is amazing news for Hazel Grove and the wider Stockport borough. Under Network North, East-West and North-South travel times are reduced for all of us. Our stations will be upgraded and electrified, and journeys will be faster and more frequent. And there is still more to come.
I'll work with this Conservative government to secure increased funding for improving connectivity across our area.
I want to thank the huge number of local people who’ve supported our campaign to upgrade and electrify the Hope Valley line. This shows what we can achieve when we work together."
Paul Athans, prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove
