Artist impression of the HS2 train and line

A senior business figure has called for high-speed rail to be extended into Preston.

Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, has issued a call to the government to continues HS2 beyond Manchester.

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She said: “I would ask the Government to reconsider its decision to end the line at Manchester and bring it into Lancashire.

“We have waited a long time for developments on HS2 and while it is good news the Government plans to finally get going on it, it would be even better for Lancashire if the county was to benefit more directly.

“The North West of England however does not stop at Manchester. Extending the line to Preston would provide a greater connectivity not just to Lancashire but to Cumbria, Scotland and the whole of the North West.”

In Leeds this week transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said HS2 would be going ahead with work commencing on the London to Birmingham connection in 2017.

What’s dubbed the Y Network would then extend the line to Manchester and Leeds.

Mr McLoughlin said: “The General Election result was a massive vote of confidence in favour of HS2.

“So the argument has been won. HS2 will be built, the full ‘Y’ network, from London to Birmingham and Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, with construction starting in just two years.

“This is the best opportunity in well over a century to level the playing field between north and south.

“Not by dragging London down, but by firing up the rest of the country – the East and West Midlands and the new Northern Powerhouse – with transport connections that match the very best in Europe.”

What do you think? Should HS2 be extended to Preston? Let us know in the comments below