LEADING North-East business figures have joined a national group of employers calling for the introduction of high-speed rail in Britain.

Despite no plans as yet to extend the network beyond Leeds, Ken McMeikan, the chief executive of Newcastlebased bakers Greggs, and Neil Stephenson, chief executive of Stockton-based technology firm Onyx, said introducing the system would bring significant benefits to the region.

Alistair Dormer, managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe, which could win a contract to build the trains in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has also put his name to the Campaign for High-Speed Rail, as has James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce.

The Government launched a public consultation last month for the £32bn plans for the highspeed rail link (HS2) with work on phase one, between London and Birmingham, due to start in 2025, followed by lines to Manchester and Leeds, with an onward connection to the East Coast Main Line.

Yesterday’s official campaign launch came only a day after the TaxPayers’ Alliance spoke out against HS2’s introduction, claiming that by 2033 there could be a 15 per cent seat drop in East Coast Main Line services from London to York, Darlington and Newcastle, if it is introduced.

But Mr McMeikan, who is also chairman of the Confederation of British Industry in the North-East, said: “A new high-speed rail network would benefit the North-East and its economy.

“Although I would have preferred the rail link to extend even further, I think the fact it is coming to the North and, as such, will reduce overall journey times when travelling from this region, is to be of benefit.”

He said thousands of Northbased businesses provided goods and services throughout the UK and internationally.

“A link will substantially improve the growth prospects of companies in the North, to the benefit of the UK as a whole,” he added.

Mr Stephenson said: “I think it should come all the way up to Newcastle, but if it comes as far as Leeds, that is better than nothing. About a third of my business comes from London and it will allow us to expand further.

“A quick, cheap, reliable train service means I can build a customer base in places our employees couldn’t previously service without expensive hotel bills and missed nighttime stories for their kids.”

Mr Ramsbotham, whose organisation represents 4,000 North-East businesses, said: “All those with a stake in the North-East economy should respond with a resounding endorsement of the plans.”

The plans would slash journey times, bringing London in 49 minutes of Birmingham, and to within 80 minutes or less of Manchester and Leeds.