WHARFEDALE and Aireborough’s MPs have spoken out broadly in favour of new high-speed rail links for the North.

The Prime Minister has announced his backing for HS3, which would involve constructing a fast link that would halve the journey time between Leeds and Manchester to just 26 minutes.

Government ministers and officials are drawing up a strategy outlining the scheme’s options, costs and timetable, which is due to be published next March.

All four of this area’s politicians have welcomed the announcement in principle, with Keighley and Ilkley’s Conservative MP Kris Hopkins hailing it as a “landmark moment for the North.”

Mr Hopkins said: “We simply cannot fulfil our true economic potential without significant improvements to our rail network, which is now over-stretched and over capacity.

“Better connectivity is absolutely vital to our success in this regard, and HS3 will enable great strides to be made as we seek to create many more jobs and attract much greater investment to our region.”

Stuart Andrew MP (Con, Pudsey), who co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on High Speed Rail, said the northern link was needed to maximise the benefits of HS2 – the high speed line that will link London to the Midlands and North.

He said: “Connectivity in the North is something that has long been overlooked and I am therefore delighted Sir David Higgins is now talking about this issue.

“Many of the transport links between some of our major cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Hull are far from adequate and it is about time something is done to address this.

“Not only is this the only way to secure more jobs and investment in the North, but it will go a long way towards rebalancing the economy in the UK.”

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) was also pleased, but says alternatives to HS3 should not be ruled out.

He said: “If you look at the two huge cities of Leeds and Manchester, less than half a per cent of the people in each city travel to the other to work.

“In this competitive world access to skilled people is crucial for cities to compete and a good, reliable, fast rail service will improve that.

“I welcome the calls for more investment in the railways of major northern cities such as Leeds which would provide a huge boost to a local economy that, at £55 billion, is already the biggest of any city region outside of London.

“It is only right northern cities get significant investment in our railways too, however we still need to look properly at cheaper and faster options that give us better connectivity - and one such proposal would be High Speed UK.”

Conservative Philip Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes Menston and Burley-in-Wharfedale, also has some reservations.

A strident critic of HS2, which he has slammed as a “grotesque waste of money”, he said: “With HS3 I am sympathetic to the principle but, as yet, not convinced it represents the best value for the taxpayer.

“It is obviously ludicrous that at the moment it takes as long to get from Leeds to Liverpool as it does from Leeds to London, and we certainly do need more transport infrastructure in the north.

“But we also have to look at how much it’s going to cost and whether it offers best vaue, or could the money be better spent on other local transport infrastructure improvements instead.”

The Government has confirmed it is to hold an official review into the spiralling costs of HS2, which could end up costing £50 billion.