An update is being given to Preston and Lancashire businesses on where HS2’s future is up to.

The high-speed rail scheme, which is currently under review by the Prime Minister and Chancellor, has no timescale for reaching as far as the city.

However the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce is due to be addressed by Alexandra Batey the Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester leg) Development Director at HS2.

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She will give insight into the latest phase of HS2 and ‘how it could potentially lead to thousands of extra jobs for Lancashire’s supply chain’.

The HS2 website currently states that the high-speed trains, for which no timescale is given, would serve the existing Preston station.

However platforms 3 and 4 would need to be extended and platforms 3c and 4c would be removed.

Journey times of one hour and 18 minutes to London would be unlocked, 50 minutes faster than at present, and journeys between Preston and Birmingham would be 50 minutes in total.

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The event, the Lancashire Economic Breakfast, will also hear from Stephen Gregson who gives an overview of the Quarterly Economic Survey.

The free to attend event at Preston College on 12 October from 7.30am is focused on the city’s business community and places can be booked via the Chamber’s website.

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