The government stated its intention to eventually build a new link between Birmingham and Manchester, but said it was not a reinstatement of the scrapped second phase of HS2.
Dr Allison Gardner, Stoke-on-Trent South MP, welcomed the announcement but said: “In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, we still sit in stasis, with legacy issues such as the HS2 compound at Yarnfield which is costing millions.”
She said there needed to be clarity on rail plans for the area, as well as the issues around HS2, which included concerns over the future of land purchased for the scrapped scheme.
Lichfield MP Dave Robertson said his constituents had to deal with “the complete failure of HS2” for 17 years and added the cancellation of the scheme “did nothing to alleviate those problems”.
He said the minister’s statement confirmed the uncertainty would continue for another two decades.