Wednesady 17 February 2010
Campaign Chair of HSR//UK, Sir Richard Leese laid down the gauntlet today - at the Transport Times Conference, London - for a post-election strategy on a high speed rail network that benefits the whole of the UK, allowing the economies of major cities to expand.
Speaking as part of Transport Times Conference Panel, Sir Richard Leese said: “High Speed Rail is something that all parties are signed up to, which is a positive step forward. However if it is to be effective, then it must be comprehensive.
“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 has a major role to play by pulling cities together, but it cannot be done in a piecemeal fashion. After the election, regardless of who is in power, we need a cohesive strategy for a HSR network, which benefits the whole of the UK by allowing the economies of all our major cities to expand.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pamela McDade at Freshwater on 0141 229 4050 or email pamela.mcdade@freshwater-uk.com
Notes to editors:
HSR\\UK – The HSR\\UK campaign is a coalition of 11 of the UK’s major cities, including Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham and Cardiff, building support for a national high speed network, seeing both business and pleasure travellers getting to city destinations faster and more efficiently than any other form of land transport.