Northern Rail and high-speed rail specialists Greengauge21 have unveiled proposals for two, 200mph train lines to serve the North-East and North-West.
As well as serving the Leeds and Sheffield City regions, the network would include a trans-Pennine link from Manchester to Sheffield. Costing £69bn the project would be paid for by a combination of public funds and private sector investment.
Unveiling the proposals Northern Way Transport Compact Chairman Professor David Begg said, "A two-line network serving the North's city regions on both the east and west sides of the Pennines and linking London with Scotland can help transform our international competitiveness, lead to a more equitable spread of wealth across the country as a whole and contribute to carbon reduction as well.
"The benefits to the North's economy come about not just from better links to London, Heathrow and Europe through the Channel Tunnel, but importantly also by faster links between the North's city regions."
Leeds Council Leader welcomes network approach
Responding to the announcements Leeds City Council co-Leader and Chairman of the Leeds City Region Board, Cllr Andrew Carter said "I am pleased to see that what we now have is a consensus of opinion that the UK needs a network of high-speed rail routes which include Yorkshire’s Leeds and Sheffield City Regions.
"Greengauge21’s findings echo the recent calls of the UK Core Cities group and our City Regions’ MPs, and are in line with those of our own studies, which indicated that a line serving Sheffield and Leeds would generate over £30bn of benefits.
"I have been heartened by Transport Minister Lord Adonis’s pledge that he would taking a balanced view on high-speed rail welcome these latest reports, which further tip the scales of good reason in the favour of more than one route.
Local business backing
"I know local business organisations including the Leeds Chamber are backing our united approach and will continue to work with all our partners to ensure the Minister and his officials make what we are certain is the right decision for the Leeds City Region, for Yorkshire and for the whole of the UK."
David Brown, Director General of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive also welcomed the report and its call for the London to Birmingham high-speed line to be connected to the Midland Main Line, which could slash journey times between Sheffield and London.
"We will be working with Greengauge21 over the next few months to stress the enormous benefits a high-speed network would have for the entire Yorkshire region."
High-speed rail campaign launched
