Scotland and the north of England should work together to ensure their cities benefit from the new high speed rail link, according to Alex Salmond.

The First Minister made the comments last night in a speech to the North East Economic forum in Newcastle.

He said: "The current proposals for high speed rail are promoted as being for a ‘UK network’ – but we know it is no such thing. Neither Edinburgh nor Newcastle, Glasgow nor Liverpool feature in the Department for Transport’s proposals for this link and it is clear there is no urgency from the South East to recognise this gaping need."

Mr Salmond’s comments came as deputy First Minister Nicola Strugeon and Transport Minister Keith Brown were attending a two-day conference 'Faster and further: a shared agenda for high speed rail' in Glasgow this week.

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The First Minister told the audience that the Scottish Government’s Fast Track Scotland document, which details the case for Scotland’s inclusion in the new high speed rail network, drew support from business leaders from across England, including Newcastle and the North East.

"Our nation and region want and deserve better connectivity, better trading and cultural links with Scotland, and with each other. We need to develop those links further, which is why I am inviting the North East Economic Forum to work with the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland on our ambitions for high speed rail: to urge high speed rail be delivered in the north as soon as possible and ensure we are linked jointly for our economic benefit.

"We all recognise that competitiveness of places – be it in Scotland, or in the North East – depends on investment in infrastructure, and investment in connectivity. That is why it is critical that we do not allow our needs to be shelved in favour of a south-centric project which will leave the north of these islands cut off from the rest of Europe.

"It is vital that by working in partnership we all support the development of a high speed rail network for Britain, which is delivered faster and reaches further, so that all can share its benefits and all can contribute to its success."

(IT)