The government has confirmed plans to scrap the £3bn HS2 'Golborne Link'.
The 13-mile stretch would have connected the Crewe to Manchester line to the west coast mainline near Golborne, to the south of Wigan.
Construction was due to start in the early 2030s and it was expected to open in the late 2030s or early 2040s as part of the second stage of HS2 services to Scotland.
