A new high speed rail route is being touted as a viable alternative to cutting the queues on the heavily congested M62.

The Northern Way is calling for new measures to combat growing congestion on the busy motorway - which is still expected to increase even with the planned introduction of a fourth lane.

The collaboration between three of the north's regional development agencies believes shrinking rail journey times across the Pennines will help turn motorists away from their cars.

Neville Chamberlain, chairman of Northern Way, said: "The Northern Way has submitted its proposals to Government as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review that sets the scene for public spending over the next decade. One of the major issues we have drawn attention to is transport in the North.

"In our proposals to Government we identify a number of transport improvements that would benefit the north's economy substantially. One of these involves improvements in the Trans-Pennine corridor that contains the M62."

The group's long-term strategy includes a high-speed link between Leeds and Manchester to provide a high quality public transport alternatives to the car.

It has also discussed introducing tolls on the M62 - one of the country's busiest motorways. Minutes from discussions earlier this year indicate the scheme would include charging for the use of specific lanes and limiting lorries to the inside lane. Leaked details of the meeting are also said to suggest the Department for Transport would "welcome" consideration of a unified charging system on the M62.

But Mr Chamberlain made they have "no specific plans" to introduce road user charging and want to work with the Government on investigating its benefits to the region's economy.

"However, we are absolutely convinced that it is vital to understand the implications of any such developments well in advance of decisions being made. Any changes to road operation should be viewed in the context of much-needed improvements to the rail network," he added.

Chris Glen, policy chairman of the regional Federation of Small Businesses, said they would only back the introduction of road user charging if it was tax neutral on the driver.

He said: "The federation's view is that anything that is going to be an additional tax on vehicles is going to be bad. We are not against charging in itself, but we want to know how it's going to work.

"It could just be a tax on business, shopping and jobs - that's not going to be good for the economy."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "If the Northern Way group has done any analysis of the potential benefits of road pricing in the north, the department would be interested to see it."

Firm proposals for an M62 toll and other long-term strategies are due to be released by Northern Way later this week.

e-mail: jo.winrow@bradford.newsquest.co.uk