HIGH SPEED RAIL LINK 'VITAL' FOR THE NORTH EAST, SAYS MEP

1.19.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Sep 2009

A high speed rail link was described as "vital for the prosperity of the North East" by MEP Fiona Hall at the Lib Dem party conference in Bournemouth.

Fiona Hall, North East Lib Dem MEP, condemned proposals by Network Rail that would build a single 225mph line up the West Coast instead.

"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," she said.

"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."

The MEP was supported by other Liberal Democrats from across the region and was featured on local news bulletins in the North East.