‘High-speed rail is essential for region’s growth’ (From The Northern Echo)

‘High-speed rail is essential for region’s growth’

8:44am Friday 18th September 2009 in Keep The Region On Track By Joe Willis, Regional chief reporter

A HIGH-SPEED rail network, to include lines on the east and west of the country, is essential to drive economic growth in the region, a group says.

The Northern Way – a partnership between the three development agencies in the North – has urged the Government to draw up a 30-year rail strategy.

In the report, the group sets out its recommendations for a high-speed rail network that serves all the major cities in the North. The report also recommends better use of existing main lines.

Northern Way transport expert Professor David Begg said: “We need a 30-year rail strategy, and high-speed rail is a critical part of it.

“A two-line north-south high-speed 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.”

The report finds that a wellplanned network would bring significant benefits to the North and help bridge the North-South economic divide.

The report recommends that a line from London to Manchester should be built, with a second line east of the Pennines.

Northern Way chairman Hugh Morgan Williams said: “A high-speed line on the west side of the country from London to Manchester, and linking in Heathrow and the Channel Tunnel, is a compelling next phase for the implementation of a high-speed rail network in Britain.

“But we are also very clear a second north-south highspeed line serving the North’s city regions east of the Pennines must be developed in parallel, or otherwise be started before a line to Manchester is completed.”

Civic leaders in Newcastle have launched a campaign to urge the Government to accelerate plans for 225mph trains to link all of Britain’s big cities.

The call comes after Network Rail dealt a blow to the region by recommending a £34bn West Coast line only.