A campaign to secure £1 billion of improvements to the North Wales and Cheshire rail network, which could create 70,000 jobs over 20 years, has been launched.

The Growth Track 360 campaign is led by a cross-border alliance of business, political and public-sector leaders. If successful, it could boost the North Wales, Cheshire and Wirral economies by linking them with the planned HS2 line between London and the North of England, they said in a joint statement.

It is calling for electrification of the line from Crewe to North Wales and the doubling in frequency of trains between the North Wales Coast Line and Wrexham to Manchester through Chester.

Investment in new rolling stock is also sought alongside new services from Liverpool (and Liverpool Airport) to North Wales and Wrexham via Chester and the doubling of journeys between Wrexham and Liverpool via Deeside and Bidston.

The campaign is being driven by the North Wales and Mersey Dee Rail Task Force and has the backing of eight local authorities, plus the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, the Mersey Dee Alliance, the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the North Wales Business Council and the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.

Samantha Dixon, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “This investment is essential if we are to create opportunities for generations to come. It would increase productivity and economic growth, increasing tax revenues and reducing unemployment across the region.

“We have economic and business assets of national and international significance, but we cannot make the most of these without a rail system that meets our needs for the future.”