Calls for high-speed railway links to benefit all of the UK

THE HEAD of a coalition of cities including Edinburgh which is campaigning for high-speed rail links has called for assurances that any proposed network would benefit the whole of the UK.

Sir Richard Leese, chairman of High Speed Rail UK, told a transport conference in London that to be effective the new network would have to be "comprehensive."

He said: "High-speed rail is something that all (main political) parties are signed up to, which is a positive step forward.

"The HSR UK coalition of 11 of the UK's major cities is campaigning for the development of a high-speed rail network, not just one or two lines, but a comprehensive network. We need to begin to rebalance economic development across the UK, taking pressure off London and supporting the economic development of cities throughout the country."

High-speed rail, which allows travel at speeds of 200mph, already operates in France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The UK's first high-speed railway, links London to the Channel Tunnel.