Analysis from the Midlands and Northern Transport Group has revealed that introducing HS2 trains could have a disruptive effect on existing services on the West Coast Main Line. 

The group argued in its analysis that introducing HS2 phase 2b could mean a reduction in stopping-service trains (a train which stops at many stations, and is therefore slower than a direct train). 

Many 'classic' services from Crewe, for example, could be axed to make room for high-speed trains; analysis suggests Crewe's intercity services could be halved from four stopping-service trains per hour to two.

The Times also reports that Stockport could face no intercity trains as part of HS2 phase 2b. 

Trevor Parkin, former head of operations for East Midlands Railway, told The Times: "The factual evidence clearly shows that HS2 will not deliver increased capacity or connectivity to the North but will do precisely the opposite, and this will lead to far inferior rail services to, from and through Crewe."

Similarly, Jack Bereton, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, said: "How can it possibly be sensible to spend billions of taxpayers' money making transport connectivity worse to and from the vast majority of west coast stations in the North?"

William Barter, a rail industry expert, was more optimistic. He told the i: "I don't think there's anywhere that's going to be cut off. I think there's a bit of scaremongering going on based on very limited data from the DfT. I think HS2 is a low threat to local train services."

Nonetheless, Mr Barter also said the Department for Transport was 'dragging its feet' on confirming what post HS2 services would look like. 

HS2 literature, however, maintains that rail capacity and services will be increased with the introduction of HS2. 

A statement on the HS2 website reads: "Building HS2 frees up a massive amount of space on the existing railway by placing long distance services on their own pair of tracks. 

"Once HS2 is operating, services can run much closer together, meaning there can be more rush hour trains, helping to relieve overcrowding."

In other words, space on existing railway lines could be freed up, as a number of express services will be removed. This means in theory that there will be space left for additional local train services. 

A spokesperson from the Department for Transport said: "Given the ongoing process of train service development, this analysis is premature as it only considers future HS2 and ignores the West Coast services that will remain."

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