The £18 billion high speed rail line from London to Birmingham should not be derailed by protesters, Birmingham City Council has warned.

Councillors have given the rail project an almost unanimous show of support and pledged to start selling the project to the rest of the region.

It comes after neighbouring local authorities, including Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Coventry have opposed the high speed line from London to Birmingham on environment grounds and fears it could actually damage the economy of other West Midland towns and cities.

Coun Jon Hunt (Lib Dem Perry Barr) said: “The Romans built the roads including Watling Street, the 18th century saw the canal network, the 19th century the rail network, the 20th century the motorways. For this century we have High Speed Rail.”

“There are benefits for this region, but we still need to make the case for it.”

He said benefits included the creation of up to 22,000 extra jobs in the West Midlands conurbation and an increase in economic output of between £600million to £1.5billion.

As well as freeing up train capacity on the over burdened West Coast Main Line and improved transport links to the wider region.

Councillors said that if the line was built, there would be need to improve connectivity within Birmingham city centre, including a metro or rapid transit service linking the high speed rail station at Curzon Street with New Street and Snow Hill.

Council Leader Mike Whitby (Con, Harborne) warned that if the region rejected the high speed rail (HS2) plans, like the M1 motorway it could end up bypassing the West Midlands altogether on its way north.

“We have made a strong case to bring HS2 to Birmingham city centre and the Government agreed.

“We must now take that message to the region. This is a golden opportunity which cannot be missed.”

Councillors warned that the line, which currently promises a 49 minute, 250mph journey from Birmingham to London, should not be altered by the campaigners, in Oxfordshire, the Chilterns, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

Labour transport spokeswoman Kath Hartley (Ladywood) said: “We do not want to see a cave-in to local pressure groups adding twists and turns, otherwise HS2 might end up looking more like the Severn Valley Railway.”

She pointed out that communities within Birmingham, such as at Bromford, could also lose out through compulsory purchase orders adding “we must fight to ensure they are fully compensated”.

City cabinet member for transport Timothy Huxtable pointed out that it would bring good engineering jobs to the city through the new maintenance depot on the former Metro Camel site, as well as the chance of a new Fort Parkway station near Bromford Island.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Norman Baker urged supporters of the rail line to come forward as the Government battles against a high-profile campaign to block the scheme.

He pointed to the success of campaigning groups such as Stop HS2, which is opposing the planned line, in getting their message across.

Politicians from across the political spectrum have joined the campaign to scrap the proposals, including former cabinet minister Geoffrey Robinson (Labour Coventry North West) and a series of Conservatives such as Chris White (Con Warwick & Leamington) and Dan Byles (Con North Warwickshire and Bedworth).

At a reception organised by Centro, the West Midlands Transport Authority, Mr Baker said they must publicly support the Government if they want the scheme to go ahead.

He said: “You have to make sure your voice is heard.”

Mr Baker said it was “understandable” that there would be opposition to a major scheme such as the new rail line.

“There will be many people who come out against it in the months and years ahead,” he said.

The economy of the West Midlands would benefit enormously from the new line, he said.

“It is going to change the geography of this country and move the centre to the West Midlands.”

Ministers have confirmed plans for a second phase, in which the service will be extended north in two directions creating a “Y-shaped” line, with trains running to Manchester in the north west and Leeds in the North-east.