Prime Minister in Smethwick to launch £9bn rail plans

David Cameron and Nick Clegg appeared in Smethwick today to announce a

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The Prime Minister and his deputy put on a show of unity as they appeared at a depot to pledge the creation of a "fast, modern and reliable" rail system.

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Mr Cameron called it the biggest investment the network has seen since Victorian times.

Mr Cameron was speaking before chairing a meeting of the Cabinet at London Midland's Soho depot on Wellington Street.

The announcement today covers the period 2014-19 and will see the electrification of the Midland Main Line between Bedford and Sheffield in a move paving the way for faster and cleaner trains.

The £30 million electrification of the Chase line between Walsall and Rugeley has also won backing.

It comes after Network Rail revealed plans to spend £5.4m increasing the speed along the line from 45mph to 75mph. Mr Cameron today said the Government was still committed to the controversial HS2 rail project, despite today's announcement of major improvements elsewhere.

He said: "Yes, HS2 is still necessary. Yes we're committed to it." Speaking about the wider rail network, he said: "We can commit to more than 850 miles of electric rail by 2019. This Government has got the finance and is really getting things moving."

At the weekend, Mr Cameron urged Conservatives and Lib Dems to unite behind the coalition. Today he said: "I am even more committed to coalition Government today than I was in May 2010."

By Daniel Wainwright