Metro Chairman Cllr James Lewis has welcomed news that the first stage of the high-speed HS2 network that will link London, Birmingham and Leeds is being given the go-ahead by the Government.

In a report published today the Department for Transport says the case for the high-speed is ‘compelling’ and describes the Y-shaped network linking London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester as ‘the best means for enhancing rail capacity and performance on Britain’s key north-south corridors’

HS2, the report says will deliver ‘a step-change in the capacity and performance of Britain’s inter-city rail network to support economic growth over the coming decades’.

Investment decisions

Metro Chairman Cllr James Lewis said “Being part of a high-speed network linking it with London, Heathrow and the rest of the country is important for West Yorkshire in attracting businesses making investment decisions.

“HS2 will free up capacity on already-busy, existing local rail lines but it will only be effective if those routes are improved to spread the benefits of the high-speed link across West Yorkshire and the Leeds City Region," he continued.

“As well as the planned electrification of the TransPennine route between Leeds, Manchester and York, we also need to see electrification of the Caldervale Line between Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Manchester and the Harrogate Line which would provide opportunities for links to Leeds/Bradford Airport.”

Simultaneous start needed

Cllr Lewis also said he would be pressing for the Government to firm up on legislation for the Birmingham to Leeds section of HS2 and that work on the link should start in Leeds and London simultaneously so West Yorkshire can start to feel its benefits at the same time, and not six years later as is currently proposed.

Kieran Preston, Metro’s Director General said "The first stage of the network to Birmingham getting the go-ahead will influence investment decisions in Yorkshire by business for years to come, helping to create new local jobs and secure existing ones.

Leeds City Council executive member for development and economy Councillor Richard Lewis said: “This is hugely welcome news for Leeds and the wider Leeds City Region. High-speed rail would not only transform rail journeys to and from the north of England, it would also bring massive benefits in terms of the potential for Leeds and the surrounding area to develop further as a major hub for business, investment, jobs and leisure.

“We’d like to thank the large number of businesses and everyone who has backed this campaign, and would stress it is vital that support continues as the plans for the northern phase of the project develop.

£2bn in economic benefits

Almost 70% of people in West Yorkshire questioned in a representative survey supported the proposals for high-speed link with nearly 90% saying they thought it would be good for business. This is backed up by research which shows that Yorkshire stands to reap over £2bn in economic benefits from a high-speed link cutting journey times from Leeds to London to just 80 minutes.

Both the CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce have welcomed today’s announcement.

John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said: "We are right to plan for the infrastructure which the next generation will need, and the biggest prize will come from phase two - the link with the North. This will help to spread the benefits of future economic growth across the country."

John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said, "This announcement must be complemented by commitments to detail the route of the high-speed network to the North of England and Scotland, to improve conventional rail services, and to deal with pressing capacity problems at our airports and on the roads."

Local passengers would also benefit from HS2. Additional capacity on the East Coast Main Line resulting from people transferring to the high-speed trains would make way for more, fast, frequent commuter trains and inter-regional services. There would also be more space for freight services reducing pressure on the motorway network.