ICE Director General, Nick Baveystock, said: “We welcome the news that HS2 will be built as far as Crewe six years earlier than planned - the North needs the benefits of high speed rail as soon as possible. We know from experience that greater continuity between the two phases of a project can create a positive impact on the UK’s engineering skills pipeline, as the workforce does not need to be retrained or stood down half way through. It also provides a platform for investment in better and more efficient production techniques. If we are to realise these benefits, HS2 must be seen in the context of a wider national transport strategy, rather than a single project developed in isolation.”
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