Approaching 120 delegates attended Lines for Enquiry, the Leeds City Region Rail Summit on Friday 20 June.

Among the delegates were key local business representatives and the media along with politicians and officers from the 11 City Region councillors, all keen to find make the case for further investment in the local rail network.

City Region Chairman Councillor Robert Light opened the event, which was chaired by BBC Transport Correspondent, Alan Whitehouse.

Speakers included John Yeomans, Chair of the Leeds City Region Business Leaders Group and York Professionals, who travelled back from London especially to give his presentation about the need for extra capacity on the network.

There were also a presentations by Steffen Plogstert who told deglegates about how successful tram-trains have been in his home town of Karlsruhe in Germany, and Julie Mills, Director of Greengauge 21 who made the case for high speed rail links in the UK.

Councillor Light said, "I am very pleased that so many people took the time to attend this first City Region Rail Summit.

"Today is the first event of its kind and the start of what we hope will be an ongoing dialogue with you the City Region’s key stakeholders, business leaders and MPs, through which we can make the case for investment in our rail network.

Paul Hirst, Partner and member of the Transport Team at DLA Piper, which provided the city centre venue for the Summit, said "The event was a great success with lively debate which emphasised the interest in and support for investment in the rail network which is vital to keep pace with the growth of the City Region"