THE chief executive of Newcastle-based bakery chain Greggs yesterday urged the Government to press ahead with a new South-North high-speed rail line.

In an open letter signed by more than 100 business leaders, Greggs’ boss Ken McMeikan – who is also chairman of the CBI in the North East – said the absence of such a link was an embarrassment to the country.

The business leaders warned that poor infrastructure was a major obstacle to long-term growth with the UK having fewer miles of high-speed track than even Morocco with 422 miles and Saudi Arabia with 342.

“The absence of a high-speed rail line connecting the northern parts of Britain to London and the European Union is a continuous embarrassment to those promoting British business overseas,” they said.

Mr McMeikan’s intervention comes as the final decision by the Government on whether to go ahead with the controversial rail link has been postponed until this month.

There has been much support and also bitter opposition to the existing HS2 scheme, which would see a line built from London through picturesque Tory heartlands to Birmingham.

The 100-mile rail link, due to be constructed between 2016 and 2026, aims to cut the London to Birmingham journey time to 49 minutes.