Business leaders back rail link calls

The influential figures have condemned the “dated, over-burdened rail services” which British businesses have been forced to endure while European countries have invested in high-speed rail.

Going ahead with the £32bn network – linking London, Birmingham, South Yorkshire, Leeds and Manchester – “brings the prospect of an end to overcrowded, unpleasant commuting for many thousands of workers” and is important to allowing businesses to grow, the letter says.

The 110 signatories include the chief executives of supermarket chain Morrisons, Greggs the bakers and JD Sports. The letter comes in a week when Britain’s transport infrastructure has been under strain once more with the closure of four junctions of the M1 for several days after a fire last weekend.

“As employers we need this investment; our employees need this investment; our region needs this investment,” concludes the letter. “Now is the time to show our support for high-speed rail.”

Northern supporters of the projects, which would cut journey times from London to Leeds by 50 minutes, have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks after Transport Secretary Philip Hammond urged them to express their backing to challenge the opposition from people opposed to the route of the London to Birmingham line, which is due to cut through countryside in the Chilterns.

Ninety leading figures from the public and private sector in the region signed a letter in the Yorkshire Post last month urging Ministers to go ahead with the “vital” project.

New research is being carried out to demonstrate the massive economic benefits the 225mph network would bring to Yorkshire.