HS2 to be re-aligned at Fradley

THE route of the proposed High Speed rail line (HS2) is to be re-aligned at Fradley to give the canal the necessary clearance the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, told Canal & River Trust.

It will avoid the actual junction at Fradley on the Trent & Mersey Canal, but of course will still cross the waterway.

Proposals accepted

The proposals by CaRT and the IWA have mainly been accepted, which will reduce the impact of passing trains on users of the waterway.

The government has also given assurances that the restoration of the Lichfield Canal can continue, though the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal, that will be hit by three crossings by the line was not mentioned.

Alternative alignment

It was a report by Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd to develop an alternative alignment of the route that was commissioned, with the company providing an alternative alignment, substantially reducing embankment heights, noise and visual intrusion, and potentially saving the project millions of pounds.