Good news today. The scrapping of HS2 North has had the effect of releasing the approval and funds to restore the Stoke to Leek line, at last. The grinding bus journey will be cut to just 20 minutes on the train, and will be far more pleasant both in terms of comfort (no swaying around and consequent bus-sickness) and off-road scenery. The re-opened line will also enable local tourism and commuting to/from the intermediate stations (Cheddleton, Consall, Froghall, Oakamoor, and possibly Fenton), as well as boosting the town of Leek as a gateway to the Peak and the Moorlands.

Now it’s just a question of time-scale I guess. It’s already well underway at the Leek end. But now… can what might have eventually been done in 20 years be done in five or six? And without a ‘too many cooks spoilt the broth’ effect, as the consultants and big contractors parachute into Leek?

The station at Meir, on the Stoke-Derby-Nottingham-Sleaford-Skegness route to the east coast, is also to be built. Also mentioned is “funding the refurbishment of Kidsgrove and Longport stations”. Meanwhile… “the popular £2 bus-fare will also be extended until the end of December 2024”.