Chamber Welcomes High Speed Rail Announcement

Date published: 12 January 2012

Commenting on the High Speed Rail announcement, Emma Antrobus, Transport Policy Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce welcomes the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening MP, regarding proposals for a High Speed Rail network.

“We have campaigned long and hard on behalf of businesses for this major investment into infrastructure, which will provide a significant boost to the nation’s economy. The benefits for Greater Manchester and the North West are essential to complement regeneration plans and support job creation through increasing capacity for vital journeys for both passengers and freight.

“The devil will be in the detail as to specific routes and timetabling, but we see today as the first step towards improved capacity on a 21st century railway. It is important though that now the correct decision has been made by government, the appropriate legislation is pushed through as quickly as possible so that work can start."