Businesses in Birmingham and Solihull are overwhelmingly in favour of the high speed rail link (HS2) between London, Birmingham and the north, new research reveals today.

A survey by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce indicates that 72 per cent of Birmingham and Solihull businesses believe that HS2 will open up inward investment, employment and economic prosperity opportunities for the future.

Birmingham Chamber is a member of the Go-HS2 alliance and fully recognises HS2's strategic importance to the West Midlands and the whole country.

Christine Braddock, Birmingham Chamber's president, said: "Reduced travel times and increased capacity will create new market opportunities, attract inward investment and increase the region's access to customers." 

The survey also revealed that 75 per cent thought HS2 could have a similar impact here to abroad. High speed rail operates successfully in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and China. 

The distances between population centres in the UK are roughly comparable to that of other countries that have HSR networks such as Germany, where the most successful high speed service is between Frankfurt and Cologne. The two cities are 110 miles apart - the same distance as between London and Birmingham.

Dr Braddock added: "Unemployment in our region is 9.7 per cent so developing sustainable long-term jobs is paramount. We require skilled jobs that won't disappear, which this region has failed on over the last decade. 

"With London benefiting from Crossrail and Thameslink, the business community here in Birmingham is desperate to also benefit from investment in first-class transport links which would no doubt help re-balance the economy. 

"The government is currently spending £2billion a year on Crossrail, a major infrastructure project benefiting London and the South East. Once that project has completed, this country can afford to continue that level of investment in another major and desperately-needed infrastructure project which is HS2. This will benefit the whole country and especially the Midlands and the North from day one of opening."

A Business Infrastructure Commission report last week stated that improvements to transport, energy and IT communications could boost the economy by £10 billion a year. The Government should invest in a long-term infrastructure plan for the UK or face putting its economic future at risk, said the Business Infrastructure Commission.