Posted on Friday 16th January 2026
Staffordshire is calling on the Government to include the county and its residents in meaningful discussions on the future of any new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester.
The Government confirmed its long-term aim to see a new north-south line between the two cities. Although this would cut through swathes of Staffordshire, there was no engagement with the county on the announcement.
Now the Council’s Acting Leader Martin Murray has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander requesting an urgent meeting.
Martin has also raised the issue with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands.
Martin said:
“This announcement was made without prior engagement with the Council, and it follows a concerning pattern in which decisions have been announced with little or no direct dialogue with the County Council, despite our efforts over the past two years to establish effective, meaningful and constructive engagement on this matter.
“The Council remains committed to acting constructively and professionally, but we will not allow Staffordshire to be cut through, cut out or forgotten.
“Our communities have endured years of disruption and destruction due to the failed and mis‑handled HS2 programme, and the absence of detail accompanying the latest announcement leaves residents and businesses facing further uncertainty - potentially for the next decade and beyond. This is unacceptable, and clarity is urgently required.
“Just because the county is not represented by an elected mayor and combined authority does not mean it can be ignored. We will not be the forgotten county.”
The commitment to a rail link was announced by the Government as part of the wider Northern Powerhouse Rail project.
The SoS added: “This won’t be a revival of HS2 and no decisions have been taken on the specification or timetable.” Land already purchased between the West Midlands and Crewe will be retained.
The letter to the Secretary of State
can be found here.