Local transport chiefs in the North West and Yorkshire have welcomed the Government’s plan to extend high-speed rail beyond Birmingham.

Transport secretary Philip Hammond revealed at the Conservative Party conference the Government’s preferred route north of Birmingham would be for two separate corridors instead of an ‘S’ shape across the Pennines.

The coalition will consult early next year on building a ‘Y’ shaped extension to the network from the West Midlands to both Manchester and Leeds.

The minister said: ‘We have committed to a high speed rail network that will change the social and economic geography of Britain; connecting our great population centres and our international gateways; transforming the way Britain works as profoundly as the coming of the original railways did in the mid-19th century.’

The move has welcomed by Councillor Chris Greaves, chairman of West Yorkshire’s integrated transport authority, Metro, who said it would boost the region’s economy by billions of pounds.

‘It will represent a significant boost for the Leeds City Region, Yorkshire and the whole of the east of England,’ he added. ‘Although the scheme is still a long way off, it will still be a positive factor in influencing companies when making decisions about whether to invest and re-locate to our area.’

The Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority, which is currently consulting on its Local Transport Plan for the next four years, welcomed the news that Manchester will play a major role in plans for high-speed rail. GMITA added investment in the Northern Hub rail improvements would be essential if proposals for high-speed rail to Manchester are to be realised.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, chair of GMITA’s policy and resources committee, told LocalGov.co.uk: ‘We are pleased that the Government has recognised Manchester’s importance to the national and regional economy and confirmed that it is included in plans for high speed rail.

‘This only serves to highlight, however, how important it will be for the Northern Hub proposals, which aim to improve and expand rail capacity around Manchester, to be funded and implemented.

‘The Northern Hub should be a precursor to investment in high speed rail to Manchester. For the potential of high speed rail to be fully exploited, we must have the necessary infrastructure in place and connectivity must be improved between Manchester, Leeds and other cities in the north.’