BUSINESS leaders lobbying for a high speed rail link between London and West Yorkshire have launched a report to dispel the myths they claim are being put forward by those opposed to the project.
The report, entitled 10 Myths: Bringing balance to the debate about high speed rail, has been published by the business-backed Campaign for High Speed Rail.
Organisations including the Lockwood-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce argue that high speed rail is vital for the future of the regional economy by putting businesses in closer touch with the capital and Europe and making Yorkshire more accessible for tourists.
The report counters claims that a national high speed rail network will cost each UK household s1,000 in taxes and the argument that it is irresponsible to spend money on a high speed rail system during a recession.
It also responds to claims that the business case for the network relies on over-optimistic passenger forecasts and that time spent by commuters in trains is not being wasted when modern technology such as laptops allows commuters to work productively on long journeys.
Prof David Begg, director of the Campaign for High Speed rail said: For too long, the opposition have been allowed to push misleading statistics and bogus exaggerations.
It is time for them to own up to the facts.
The economic case for high-speed rail is strong. This project must go forward.
