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… [transform] the way Britain works as profoundly as the coming of the original railways did in the mid-19th century.’

Cllr Chris Greaves, chairman of West Yorkshire’s integrated transport authority, Metro, 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 entire 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 relocate to our area.’

The Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) said that investment in the Northern Hub rail improvements would be essential if proposals for high-speed rail to Manchester were to be realised.

Cllr Keith Whitmore, chair of GMITA’s policy and resources committee, told Surveyor: ‘The Northern Hub should be a precursor to investment in highspeed rail to Manchester.

‘For the potential of highspeed 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.’