Dear Editor, Jerry Marshall’s suggestion (Post May 26) that High Speed Rail could be brought directly to New Street or Birmingham International does not address a number of important issues.

High Speed Rail is about a national network and therefore simply bringing HS2 to New Street would not bring the key benefits of improved speed and connectivity with cities across the UK and Europe and would not have the economic benefits of the proposed HS2 route.

The combined effect of HS2 and the increased regional rail capacity it will bring will generate 22,000 jobs in the West Midlands and increase economic output by £1.5bn per year. It is important to remember it will not just provide a fast link with London, but a fast link with cities including Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and Paris.

It is incorrect to say that the West Midlands region would suffer under the introduction of HS2. In fact, the reverse is true. We believe the investment would boost the economies of Coventry, the Black Country and surrounding areas as well as Birmingham. And the new HS2 line would free up capacity on existing routes. Under proposals drawn up by Centro stations including Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall and Sandwell & Dudley would receive new and additional services bringing connectivity and increased economic output.

HS1 has, in fact, delivered tens of thousands of homes and around 100,000 jobs in the south east. The value of HS1 has been put at £20bn – almost forty times its original estimate.

The full network upgrade Mr Marshall suggests would cost around £24bn and would cause massive disruption. It would not bring the economic growth and connectivity provided by HS2.

Geoff Inskip

Centro Chief Executive