THE Government has released details of the its preferred route for the second phase of the high-speed rail line HS2, which will connect Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds.

The route includes a stop at Manchester Airport near to Hale Barns.

The western leg of HS2 will continue north from Crewe to Manchester Airport, and from Manchester Airport on to Manchester City Centre, where a new HS2 station will be built next to Manchester Piccadilly.

The Manchester Airport Station station will lie west of and parallel to the M56, between junctions five and six.

The Government says journey times between Manchester Airport and Birmingham will take 32 minutes compared to one hour and 49 minutes currently, and between the airport and London taking one hour and three minutes, compared to two hours and 24 minutes currently.

The report says: "In response to concerns raised during consultation, the proposed access arrangements and layout of the station at Manchester Airport have been altered in order to maximise the use of space in between the M56 and the HS2 station and reduce land take.

"Correspondingly, the station car park has been moved to the east of the station. This refinement reduces visual impacts and land take, facilitates constructability, reduces cost and improves ease of maintenance."

Transport minister Chris Grayling says HS2 will boost the economy.

But critics say the £56bn project is not needed and will spoil some of the country's most beautiful countryside.

People can get more information at public events that will be held at locations along the Phase 2b route, beginning in January 2017.

For further information on these events visit https://www.gov.uk/hs2