Paul Scriven: Government must have the imagination to make high speed rail our future

6.13.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Aug 2009

Commenting on plans by rail campaigners to provide a high-speed rail line linking Yorkshire to London in just over an hour, Councillor Paul Scriven, Parliamentary Campaigner for Sheffield Central, said:

"I wholeheartedly welcome these ideas and I hope all of Sheffield can join me in supporting the Fast Track to Yorkshire campaign. Sheffield is in the dark ages as far as high-speed rail is concerned. The Government must have the imagination to make high-speed, affordable rail travel our future.

"In an age where China is building railways that can achieve speeds of 268 miles per hour, it's a scandal that our region is being left so far behind. We can't afford for more and more people to use air travel as an alternative.

"The cost of these plans pales into insignificance compared to what has been spent on rail projects in London under this Labour Government. The bill for the Crossrail scheme alone looks likely to exceed what this project would cost.

"I urge ministers to look urgently at this scheme and give Sheffield the sustainable, high-speed travel it needs for future generations."