WARRINGTON South Tory MP Andy Carter says he understands work is under way to publish an alternative route to the proposed HS2 Golborne spur.

It comes as the Guardian reports that it understands transport secretary Grant Shapps has privately promised to scrap the controversial branch of the HS2 train line.

It reports that the 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady, the Tory MP for Altrincham and Sale West, which would be affected by the spur, wrote to a constituent last week saying Mr Shapps had given him ‘categorical verbal assurances’ that it would be removed from the HS2 bill currently going through Parliament.

Labour-run Warrington Borough Council has repeatedly stated that it supports HS2, however, it opposes the planned spur between Warrington and Wigan.

Mr Carter says he understands work is under way to publish an alternative route and that he will be supportive of any amendments.

He said: “There are better ways to connect Manchester with the north and Scotland than via the Golborne spur, I’ve repeatedly argued for changes to be made to the route along with Sir Graham and James Grundy, my MP colleague in Leigh.

“The union connectivity review released earlier this year highlights this too, I understand work is under way to publish an alternative route and I will certainly be supportive of any Government amendments.”

In January, it was reported that uncertainty surrounds whether the HS2 Golborne link would go ahead.

At the time, when asked for a comment on whether the Golborne link will remain in the HS2 plans, a Department for Transport spokesman said: “The UCR recommended that the Government review options for alternative northerly connections between HS2 and the WCML.

“The Government is considering the recommendations of the UCR and will publish its response in due course. We would not want to pre-empt this response.

“It is the Government’s intention to deliver the right infrastructure for long term benefits to the rail network, to the north and to Scotland.”