Confirmation of 'phase 2b' of the line, which is scheduled to open in 2033, came as legislation enabling the construction of 'phase 2a' between Lichfield and Crewe was introduced into parliament. The High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill will effectively act as a planning application for that section of the line, which is expected to open in 2027 if approved by parliament.
Major infrastructure planning expert and parliamentary agent Richard Bull of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said that bill "confirms the government's commitment to HS2".
"The route is largely as announced in 2015, but with three significant refinements," he said.
"First, the connection to the West Coast Main Line and the start of a tunnel in Crewe are to be moved further south. Secondly, the construction railhead, later to be used as a maintenance deport, intended to be placed near Crewe at Basford is instead to be located near Stone. Thirdly, the government is consulting on proposals to develop a hub station at Crewe. The development of a Crewe hub is not part of the core scheme and will only go forward if ministers are convinced it is value for money," he said.
The government is now consulting on the environmental impacts of phase 2a until 30 September 2017.
"It is only once the consultation responses have been considered and reported on by an independent assessor that MPs will be given the opportunity to debate the principle of the bill, possibly in late October," said Bull. "Those who are 'specially and directly affected' by the scheme will then be given an opportunity to petition with a view to mitigating the impacts. A specially convened select committee will then spend several months considering the petitions."
"Thereafter, various more stages will be required in the Commons. Pretty much exactly the same procedure then follows in the House of Lords. The timetable in the Commons could also be knocked off course if the government brings forward further refinements to the scheme – for example, the development of the Crewe hub. It follows that it is with a very fair wind that the bill might obtain royal assent by the end of 2019," he said.
'Phase 1' of HS2, between London and Birmingham, is due to open in 2026. Preparatory work on the route has already begun, and major construction is due to start next year. Once fully complete, the line will connect Birmingham to Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands in a y-shape.
Phase 2a will run between Birmingham Curzon and Crewe, where it will connect with the western part of phase 2b to run to Manchester and Warrington. The eastern part of Phase 2b will run to a new East Midlands Hub station at Toton, Nottinghamshire, before continuing on to Leeds and South Yorkshire. The line will then connect with the existing East Coast Main Line.
Once complete, HS2 will cut the journey time between Birmingham and Manchester in half, from more than 80 minutes to 40 minutes. It will also free up seats and space for additional services on local lines. Commuter routes between Manchester Piccadilly, Stoke and Crewe; between Leeds and Wakefield; and between London, Peterborough and other east coast destinations will particularly benefit, according to government analysis.
The government has also asked HS2 Ltd, the company that will deliver the new line, to create a northern junction back onto HS2. This would then be used to deliver a connection between Leeds and Sheffield city centres as part of the government's 'Northern Powerhouse' transport strategy.