Pledge on HS2 from David Cameron

A high speed rail line through Staffordshire is still necessary despite a £9.4 billion plan to upgrade existing tracks across the country, the Prime Minister has said.

David Cameron made the pledge during his visit to the West Midlands yesterday as he and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg unveiled the largest rail investment since Victorian times. The massive upgrading project will include a £30 million scheme to electrify the Chase line through Walsall and Cannock, allowing for longer and faster trains.

It comes as plans are still under way to develop a £32 billion HS2 high speed rail line with 225mph trains that would bring two new stations to Birmingham.

Councillors in Staffordshire have objected to the plan amid concerns it will tear up land near Lichfield and that all the economic benefits will be concentrated in Birmingham.

Speaking at the London Midland rail depot in Smethwick the Prime Minister said: "High speed rail is still necessary. It's right to get on board the high speed revolution and we've had great success with the first high speed line , which goes from London to the Channel Tunnel. Sometimes people forget that the second line would have been necessary anyway when they look at the cost of HS2."

Aidan Burley, MP for Cannock Chase, said: "This really is absolutely fantastic news for Cannock Chase and all local people." But opponents said the upgrade of the Midland Mainline, which covers the East Midlands, rendered HS2 unnecessary.

Stop HS2 Campaign coordinator Joe Rukin said: "Even proponents of HS2 have admitted that Midland Mainline electrification dim-inishes the point of having HS2 and further wrecks the business case."