The FT Letter On 24 February 2011, a group of businesspeople signed the following letter to the Financial Times, showing the widespread business support for high speed rail.
“We believe the Government is right to develop a new high-speed rail line linking the major cities in the Midlands, the North of England and London. A high-speed rail link will give the economy a much needed boost, particularly in the North and Midlands. Not only will a high-speed rail link create much needed capacity and reduce journey times, it will also improve connections between airports, help current commuter services, and free up space on existing lines to carry more freight. All this will provide significant help for British business and attract additional new investment.”
- Mr John Cridland, Director-General, Confederation of British Industry
- Mr David Frost CBE, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce
- Lord [Digby] Jones of Birmingham Kt
- Mr I G King, CEO, BAE Systems
- Sir John Egan, Former President of the CBI
- Lord [Colin] Marshall of Knightsbridge, Chairman, Nomura
- Mr Colin Matthews, Chief Executive, BAA Airports Ltd
- Mr Ken McMeikan, Chief Executive, Greggs plc
- Mr Dalton Philips, CEO, Morrisons
- Sir Nigel Rudd, Chairman, Invensys plc
- Mr Andy Street, Managing Director, John Lewis
- Mr Willie Walsh, President, London Chamber of Commerce, Chief Executive, International Airlines Group
- Ms Judith Armitt, Managing Director, Ashford’s Future Company Ltd
- Professor David Begg, Chief Executive, Transport Times Ltd
- Mr Jerry Blackett, Chief Executive, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
- Mr P F Blakemore, Managing Director, A F Blakemore
- Mr Paul Chapman, Managing Director, HS1 Ltd
- Mr Andrew Cleaves, Managing Director, National Express Coach
- Mr A W Collington, Managing Director, Kiveton Park Steel
- Mr Charlie Cornish, Group Chief Executive, Manchester Airports Group
- Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby
- Professor David Dickinson, Head of Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham
- Mr Alistair Dormer, Managing Director, Hitachi Europe Ltd
- Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham
- Mr Jonathan Enever, Director, Gleeds
- Mr Andrew Eyre, Executive Chairman, TSL Turton Ltd
- Mr Paul Fielding, Board Director, Colmore Business District
- Mr Richard Flisher, Director, CPMG Architects
- Mr Jeremy Blood, Acting Chief Executive, Mitchells and Butlers plc
- Mr Tim Garratt, Director, Innes England
- Mr Anthony Giddings, Director, Argent Group plc
- Professor Keith W. Glaister, Dean, Management School, University of Sheffield
- Mr Andreas Goss, CEO, Siemens plc
- Mr Jacques Gounon, Chairman and CEO, Groupe Eurotunnel
- Mr Philip Green, CEO, United Utilities
- Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
- Dr Jan Hruska, Co-founder, Sophos Ltd
- Professor Philip Jones, Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University
- Mr Hugh Jones, Joint CEO, Steer Davies Gleave
- Mr Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive, Birmingham International Airport
- Mr Nigel M. Lane, Managing Director, Cold Drawn Products Ltd
- Mr John Lyle, Director of Brands, Purple Circle Design
- Mr Alastair MacColl, Chief Executive, Business and Enterprise North East
- Mr Yuri Matischen, President, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
- Mr William McWilliams, Partner, Grant Thornton
- Mr Clive Memmott, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
- Professor Peter Moizer, Dean, Leeds University Business School
- Mr Rick Moore, President, Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce
- Mr Gareth Morgan, Deputy Chair, Birmingham Future
- Mr Keith Norman, General Secretary, ASLEF
- Mr Michael R Oliver DL, Chairman, Oliver Valves Ltd
- Mr Nick Olley, Partner, Burges Salmon LLP
- Mr Mark Plato, CEO, telent Ltd
- Mr Harry Platt, Chief Executive, Workspace Group plc
- Professor Susan Price, Vice-Chancellor, Leeds Metropolitan University
- Mr Neil Rami, CEO, Business Birmingham
- Mr James D A Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, North East Chamber of Commerce
- Mr David P J Ross
- Mr Neil Scales OBE MSc. C. Eng, Chairman, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
- Mr Adrian Shooter, Chairman, Chiltern Railways
- Mr Jon Templeman, CEO, Bridon Group
- Mr Paul Thandi, CEO, The NEC Group
- Mr Ben Thomson, Chairman, Reform Scotland
- Mr David Tilly, Partner, Geldards LLP Nottingham
- Mr Andrew Tinkler, CEO, Stobart Group
- Professor J Steven Toms, Professor of Accounting and Finance and Head of School, The York Management School, University of York
- Mr Simon Topman, CEO, Acme Whistles
- Mr Anton Valk, CEO, Abellio
- Mr Tony Veverka, CEO, Ultralase
