I’VE noticed on northwichguardian.co.uk there is a story about stopping HS2.
What I have never read is a story about the alternatives to HS2 to increase capacity on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) if it is not built as it is approaching full capacity.
The government has asked Network Rail to look at alternatives to increase capacity and it is here: https://assets.publishing.service.
gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/253467/possible-enhancementsto- rail-network.pdf One of the biggest obstacles to increasing capacity is that the WCML from just south of Winsford to Acton Bridge, through Hartford, is just two tracks as opposed to the four tracks, it is all the the way from London to south of Winsford.
The Network Rail document has several alternatives to increase capacity on the WCML, but every one involves going from two tracks to four through Winsford and Hartford and that would involve massive disruption and building work as well as demolition of peoples homes and possibly factories on Winsford industrial estate.
This would be a massive blight on Winsford and people should know the alternatives to HS2 will not involve doing nothing and this is very likely to happen without HS2.
Stephen Connor, Winsford
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