Councillors were united in their support for a high speed rail link across the breadth of northern England.

But some joked they may need Zimmer frames before it’s created and the first passengers are ready to board the so-called High Speed 3.

A full meeting of Kirklees Council on Wednesday saw cross-party unity for a motion calling on the Government to deliver on HS3 as soon as possible.

Chancellor George Osborne unveiled HS3 plans in June. No route has been indicated but a trans-Pennine route has not been ruled out.

Kirklees councillors called for it to run across northern cities from Liverpool to Hull, and urged he Government to ‘marry’ the investment in infrastructure with greater devolution to northern regions.

Clr Andrew Pinnock, Cleckheaton Lib Dem, put forward the motion – now Kirklees Council chief executive Adrian Lythgo will write to the national party leaders stating Kirklees’ support.

Clr Pinnock said: “You’ve only got to look at the M62 to realise it’s probably getting very close, or beyond, its capacity. Putting a lot more traffic on the railway will be a huge advantage.”

Clr Peter McBride, Labour Cabinet member for investment and regeneration, said: “What we need is a strong message to Government that better rail links are needed. The last thing we want to do is send the wrong message that HS3 is needed more than HS2.

“The real point is, we need efficient and fast links between our cities and towns in the north – Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Hull – that is equally important.”

Tory leader Clr Robert Light said: “We do support HS3 We think it’s a really important proposal. The fact that George Osborne as Chancellor is also a North West MP is a great advantage for us and we should not fail to exploit that.

“My worry is that everyone will think the stop has to be in Leeds. We need look beyond that.

“HS3 is about building for the future generation, even if I have a Zimmer frame by then.”

Clr Andrew Cooper, Green and Valley Independent leader, dubbed the rail line between Huddersfield and Sheffield as ‘low speed one’ saying that’s where investment is needed.

“We are looking at the wrong thing,” he said. “We need to be looking at what is getting people to and from work, not some grandiose project thinking we can somehow influence it.”