SOME commentators are comparing the potential introduction of a North-South high-speed rail line to the era when trains first steamed along Britain’s infant rail network.

Then it was the canals and stagecocaches that found themselves quickly superseded, as travellers found they could travel between towns in a matter of hours by train, rather than take days and days.

Now there are excited supporters of the new rail scheme saying that the transformation, if and when the new line is built, could be just as startling. That the economy could be revolutionised by the impact of 250mph rail transport, by shifting jobs into the North, from the over-inflated and expensive South.

The figures are staggering, according to experts. The nation’s economic output could soar by up to £29bn, and total job creation could be as high as 42,000. They are aspirations to be embraced as quickly as possible – but the report detailing the benefits the line will bring sets a target date of 2040.

That is an awesome timescale. Britain has colossal debt problems now that a huge surge in employment could help to solve. We can only hope there are brighter times around the corner that will have eased the country’s difficulties somewhat by then, but we must still be wary that this golden opportunity is not lost to Merseyside.

Liverpool, after all, will be on a spur from the main line, branching out to the West as the majority of trains rocket on to Manchester and Leeds, or on to Scotland.

It is not hard to imagine some people saying the cost of building a high-speed line up a junction to Liverpool cannot be justified. We must guard against this, as from now, and ensure we are not left disadvantaged by geography.

Liverpool is seen as the gateway to Ireland and even the US. Sacrificing our high-speed rail hopes would be short-sighted and idiotic.