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High-speed rail "vital" for North East

The Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth has been told that a high-speed rail link would be “vital for the prosperity of the North East”.

Fiona Hall, the region’s Liberal Democrat Euro-MP, condemned proposals by Network Rail that would build a single 225mph line through the North West.

Ms Hall said: “A high speed link is vital for the prosperity of the North East. It offers North East businesses a fast and green link not only to London, but to the rest of Europe.

“It is unacceptable that recent proposals by Network Rail see the North East by-passed by the high speed line.

“Equally outrageous is the Tory plan to stop the high speed line at Leeds, cutting off the North East.

“We need to adopt a high speed rail option which includes Newcastle from day one.”

Lord Adonis has already distanced himself from the Network Rail study, insisting a “central aspect” of any high-speed plans must be speeding up journeys across the Pennines, linking the North East to Manchester and Liverpool.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .