Member Article

East Coast Main Line consortium in bid for further investment from government

The growth potential of economies linked by the East Coast Main Line (ECML) is being presented to Government Ministers, business leaders and Members of the UK and Scottish Parliaments in a bid for further investment.

The research, commissioned by the Consortium of East Coast Main Line Authorities (ECMA), was undertaken over the past eight months and is part of the ECMAs bid for investment for upgrades to the ECML.

It shows that the economies linked by the ECML are worth well over £300 billion each year to the UK with significant potential for growth worth £5 billion if rail connections were improved along the whole route.

The predicted economic benefits increase to £9 billion if the ECML is improved in addition to the eastern arm of High Speed 2 being built, allowing high speed trains to connect Leeds, York, the North East and Scotland to Birmingham and London.

The Consortium will be setting out the action all partners need to take to deliver this economic growth across the ECML at the Events. It will ask the rail industry to suggest and deliver the schemes that best achieve the potential for economic growth identified in the research.

City of York Council is a member of ECMA and is committed to securing economic growth by improving passenger and freight services across the ECML.

Cllr Alexander is leader of City of York Council and chairs the ECMA. He said: “Businesses, politicians and interested parties will see a united call for investment in the East Coast Mainline from the authorities up and down the line.

“We want to see the collective economic benefits to be harnessed from improved connectivity. This investment is vital if our cities are going to drive economic growth and create new jobs across the country in years to come”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .