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A report has been released detailing nine reasons why business leaders from across the North West say it is vital to the region that HS2 comes off.

Industry organisation High Speed Rail Industry Leaders has published its HS2 North West Voices, bringing together a range of business leaders and politicians from Liverpool to Manchester to Carlisle as contributors.

The reasons outline the 鈥渢ransformational benefits鈥� HS2 鈥� delivered 鈥渁ll the way鈥� to Glasgow - will bring to the North West economy, adding that it will 鈥渢urbo charge the wider Northern economy, opening up and increasing opportunities for the region鈥檚 businesses and communities".

It comes after it was revealed on Sunday that a decision on the controversial Oakervee review into HS2 could be put on hold until after the General Election and the appointment of a new Secretary of State for Transport.

Here are the nine reasons in full:

1. HS2 will "tackle the capacity crunch on North-South railway"

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-John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle, said that HS2 鈥渋s the only way of tackling the capacity crunch and improving journey times鈥�.

-Chris Fletcher, of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said 鈥渟omething radical is needed, and quick鈥� to solve the capacity crunch.

2. HS2 will "help us achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050" - and remove freight from roads

-Lucy Powell, Labour MP for Manchester Central, described HS2 as 鈥渆ssential鈥� if we are to 鈥渄eliver net zero carbon emissions by 2050鈥�.

-Liverpool鈥檚 Cllr Liam Robinson听said that HS2 would create a 鈥渘ational step change鈥� removing 150m HGV road kilometres a year".听

-Frank McKenna of听Downtown in Business听claimed HS2 would relieve city centres 鈥渙f the nightmare gridlock scenarios we see during rush hour on a daily basis".

3. HS2 will "smash" the North-South divide

For too long, the report said, Britain has suffered from "huge regional imbalances", with productivity in London 40% greater than in the North.听

Underinvestment in transport infrastructure in the North West has constrained growth and business productivity, it added.

-John Stevenson MP and Lucy Powell MP听jointly said that HS2 is 鈥渧ital to fundamentally addressing the North-South divide鈥� and that 鈥渃onnecting London all the way to Glasgow鈥� will reduce 鈥渋nequalities of prosperity and opportunity between the North and the South鈥� and ensure that 鈥渆very part of our country is firing on all cylinders鈥�, turning cities in the North West into 鈥渋nter-connected economic powerhouses鈥�.

-Chris Fletcher of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce听said that if you 鈥淸a]sk anyone in the North of England for an example of the 鈥楴orth South divide鈥欌�any people would immediately identify the disparity in spending per head on transport.鈥�

-Mr McKenna said Londoners receive 鈥溌�2,555 more than northerners鈥� on transport spend.

4. HS2 will reduce journey times

The report outlined what it said will happen to current journey times under HS2:

- Manchester - Birmingham: halved from 88 mins to 40 mins

- Carlisle - London: drop from 3 hrs 15 mins to just over 2 hrs 30 mins

- Carlisle - Wigan: drop from around two hours to 1 hr 24 mins

- Carlisle - Crewe: drop from 1 hr 30 mins to under an hour

- London - Manchester: almost halved from 127 minutes to 67 minutes

5. HS2 will "improve business connectivity and productivity", and bring development and regeneration to the North West

HS2 will provide a step-change in connectivity to the North, bringing people, their skills and businesses closer together to open up markets and create a more balanced economy, the report said.

It cited comments by the following signatories:

- Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, said that 鈥淗S2 and NPR will put rocket boosters behind the economy of the North.鈥澨�

-Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council听said that HS2 would bring a 鈥渟tep change in connectivity to the cities outside of London鈥� and represents 鈥渙ne of the biggest development opportunities in the 海角视频.鈥�

-Philip Cox of Cheshire and Warrington LEP听said high speed rail projects 鈥渁ct as a catalyst to economically reposition towns, cities and regions鈥� which would be 鈥渁ttractive to a range of businesses locating for the first time.鈥�

- Chris Fletcher of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerced said the 鈥渟park鈥� HS2 鈥渃an ignite in local economies鈥�, claims that HS2 is a 鈥済enuinely once in a lifetime鈥� opportunity and that HS2 鈥渨ill allow currently unthinkable and unattractive commutes to become a reality鈥�.

6. HS2 will "boost jobs and skills"

-Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, said that 鈥淗S2 and NPR will鈥pen up more opportunities for northern young people, businesses and communities".

-Liverpool鈥檚 Cllr Liam Robinson said that 鈥渋mproved journeys are worth鈥�24,000 new jobs through more businesses wanting to locate in our city region.鈥�

-Will Roberts of Alstom鈥檚 said the investment 鈥渋n new technology and skills" would "train a new generation of North West talent".

-Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council听said HS2 鈥渨ill provide huge job opportunities, both during construction and operational phases. Additional long-term employment opportunities will come from the increased development and investment brought to the city".

7. HS2 will "drive business growth and increase export power"

-Tim Hawkins of the Manchester Airports Group听said that HS2 would 鈥渟end a practical and symbolic message, demonstrating the importance of businesses from across the North鈥� and that 鈥渢he ability for Northern businesses to be global鈥� requires 鈥渢he best infrastructure.鈥�

- Liverpool鈥檚 Cllr Liam Robinson听said that HS2 is 鈥渆ssential to support the growth of the Port of Liverpool".

8. HS2 will "increase tourism in North West towns and cities"

-John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle, said 鈥測ou will see more people from the South of England coming up to the region, not just the Lake District, but also to explore Hadrian鈥檚 Wall, South West Scotland and the northern parts of Cumbria".

-Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council听says that 鈥渁 culturally rich, enjoyable and highly functional city centre is key to attracting and retaining businesses, workers, residents and visitors".

- Liverpool鈥檚 Cllr Liam Robinson听claimed that improved rail links 鈥渨ill also mean 3.6m additional visitors 鈥� business and leisure 鈥� every year".

9. HS2 will lead to "more homes and investments in communities"听

Chris Cooney of Bombardier Crewe听said that HS2 has caused 鈥渁 real buzz in the town鈥� not least because of the 鈥�7,000 new homes by 2043鈥� that are 鈥渆xpected in a new commercial hub around the station".

Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council听said HS2 鈥渨ill bring鈥�13,000 new homes and 820,000 square metres of new commercial development in the area surrounding Piccadilly".

Liverpool鈥檚 Cllr Liam Robinson said it would mean 鈥�11,000 new homes to accommodate people in those additional jobs".