BRINGING forward the HS2 high-speed rail via Crewe is a ‘massive step in the right direction for the Northern Powerhouse’, Chancellor George Osborne has claimed.

Mr Osborne, MP for Tatton, confirmed today that the high speed rail link connecting Crewe to Birmingham will open in 2027, six years ahead of schedule.

The Chancellor revealed the government has set out £55.7 billion for the programme in the 2015 Spending Review.

The announcement is a major boost to the Northern Powerhouse, as the new route is touted as a significant catalyst for driving growth and rebalancing regional economies across the country.

Mr Osborne said: “In my Spending Review we committed to the biggest rise in transport spending in a generation meaning that major projects like the construction of HS2, to link the Northern Powerhouse to the South, can begin.

“Bringing forward this part of the HS2 route by six years is a massive step in the right direction for the Northern Powerhouse where high speed rail will play a big role in connecting up the entire region with the rest of the country.”

Once complete, HS2 will mean journey times fall by an hour from London to Manchester, by 53 minutes from London to Glasgow and by 65 minutes from Birmingham Curzon Street to Leeds.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said today’s announcement presented a ‘tremendous opportunity for the north’.

“HS2 will mean an economic transformation for the whole country,” he said.

“Bringing HS2 to Crewe ahead of time is a tremendous opportunity for the north to feel the benefits even sooner.

“Cities across the North West and Scotland will gain much needed additional rail capacity and faster services, helping support growth and deliver jobs.

“We continue to make good progress on our plans for the rest of HS2 Phase Two serving Manchester, east Midlands, south Yorkshire and Leeds and will make a decision on the route in autumn 2016.”

The Chancellor also announced today that former Director General of the CBI, John Cridland, will be the first Chair of Transport for the North (TfN), a new body created to help transform transport connectivity across the Northern Powerhouse.

Mr Osborne said: “It’s fantastic to announce someone of the calibre of John Cridland to take on the important role of chairing Transport for the north.

“He will bring huge knowledge and experience to this position and I want to say thank you to Sir Richard Leese for the great job he has done in an interim capacity.

“I look forward to continuing to work together to deliver our shared aim of a world-class transport system for the north.”

Mr McLoughlin also welcomed the appointment.

He said: “The government continues to boost economic growth by investing in transport with a clear focus on the Northern Powerhouse.

“I welcome the appointment of John Cridland as chairman of Transport for the North and look forward to working closely with him to deliver a world class transport network for the region.”

Mr Cridland said he was ‘delighted’ to take up the appointment He said: “There is much to do to improve transport capacity and links across the north, and we now have the opportunity to make this happen.

“I look forward to working with city leaders, minsters and all stakeholders across the north of England."