A campaign to bring high-speed rail to the Leeds City Region has been being launched.

Yorkshire stands to reap over £2bn in economic benefits from the Government's proposed national network of 200mph + trains, known as 'HS2', which will cut the journey time from Leeds to London to just 80 minutes.

Visitors to the new Yorkshire Needs High-Speed Rail website can find out how the planned high-speed link will support the creation of new jobs and encourage companies to locate and invest in the Leeds City Region.

They can also sign up to support the national 'Yes to High Speed Rail' campaign.

Investment decisions

Gary Williamson, Chief Executive of the Chamber said: "High-speed rail will bring huge benefits for our region. If the first stage gets the go-ahead, it will influence investment decisions by business for years to come, helping to create new local jobs and secure existing ones."

"If we are to realise these economic benefits, we need the first stage of the scheme from London to Birmingham to be approved. We must not be derailed by a vocal minority in the home counties, who are opposing the scheme. That's why we are encouraging local people and businesses to respond to the consultation and show their support for the scheme."

Neil McLean, Chair of the Leeds City Region LEP Board added: "High-speed rail will play a major role in delivering Leeds City Region's ambition of becoming a world-leading low carbon economy.

Transformational benefits

"The transformational benefits for the whole city region economy are clear: as the country's largest financial centre outside London, new high-speed connections to the capital and European markets will shape business investment decisions and enhance our competitiveness on the world stage. We don't just want to see high-speed rail in the Leeds City Region; we want to see it here as soon as possible, so that we can accelerate the benefits for the city region and the UK economy."

Metro Chairman, Cllr James Lewis said: "Leeds needs high-speed rail because it has the potential to transform the shape of the national and the city region economy. A city centre high-speed rail station would provide a transformational new transport hub helping to spread the benefits of high-speed rail across the Leeds City Region.

Immediate improvements

"As well as campaigning for the long-term benefits of HS2, we will be pressing for more immediate improvements to existing routes, such as the electrification of the East Coast Main Line, Midland Main Line, trans-Pennine and Leeds-Sheffield links, which would deliver substantial benefits at modest costs."

Councillor Keith Wakefield, Leader of Leeds City Council said: "Leeds is a city that is going places and we need high-speed rail to improve access to the area as it develops further as a major hub for business, leisure, investment and jobs. High speed rail will transform rail journeys from Leeds and many other northern cities, providing travel opportunities and choices that we won't otherwise have."

Concerted effort

"With Leeds Arena and the Trinity Leeds shopping complex in development, the council is working with its partners in a concerted effort to attract jobs and further investment to Leeds, and we need the best possible transport links to support that.

"The forward-looking approach of authorities in our twin city, Lille, who started planning well before that city's high-speed TGV Nord line was built, resulted in the expansion of the city centre with the development of a major commercial centre around the new station. A continuing development strategy has resulted in new offices, public housing and a large conference and events hall in other nearby areas - a hugely successful model which we believe could be of great benefit if similarly applied to Leeds."

The Yorkshire Needs High-Speed Rail website is also supported by a Yorkshire Needs High-Speed Rail Facebook page and on Twitter @HighSpeed2Yorks.

Next Tuesday, 28 June the 'Yes to High Speed Rail' campaign bus will be calling at Leeds, when local business leaders, politicians and others will be turning out for a photocall in Millennium Square to show their support for the campaign.