Britain's economy 'will have rocket fuel put into it by 2050' if plans for a 1,000 mile nationwide high-speed rail network go ahead * It would also reduce an over-reliance on London by lowering journey -- comments High-speed rail connecting all of the UK mainland by 2050 would put 'rocket fuel in Britain's economy', a leading transport think tank has said. The proposed plan would be a further development of HS2 (High Speed 2) which is the new high-speed rail linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester, due to be operational by 2026. The ambitious proposal by a UK think tank is to extend the HS2 line and create 1,000 miles (1,600km) of new rail network that will 'reach all parts of the country'. -- Scroll down for video Proposals include an upgraded fast route from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway carrying HS2 trains, continuing to the South West and South Wales. Pictured are the main five proposals from the Surrey-based Greengauge 21 think tank Proposals include an upgraded fast route from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway carrying HS2 trains, continuing to the South West and South Wales. Pictured are the main five proposals from the Surrey-based Greengauge 21 think tank Proposals include an upgraded fast route from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway carrying HS2 trains, continuing to the South West and South Wales. Pictured are the main five proposals from the Surrey-based Greengauge 21 think tank A new connection in the West Midlands would see HS2 trains speed to cities such as Bristol, Cardiff, Newcastle and Edinburgh, reducing the need for environmentally harmful cars, the Surrey-based Greengauge 21 -- as Germany, Italy and France, the report said. HS2 is a planned high-speed rail network, with trains holding more than 1,000 commuters travelling up to 250mph (400kmh), from London to Birmingham and to Manchester and Leeds. -- Jim Steer, director of the think tank, said: 'Britain lacks a long-term national railway strategy beyond HS2. 'We need a plan to put rocket fuel into our economic productivity and -- the country.' The report, titled Beyond HS2, said boosting national productivity should be the guiding priority for re-designing the rail network. High-speed rail connecting all of the UK mainland would put 'rocket fuel in Britain's economy', a leading transport think tank has said. Pictured is an artist's impression of the HS2 train High-speed rail connecting all of the UK mainland would put 'rocket fuel in Britain's economy', a leading transport think tank has said. Pictured is an artist's impression of the HS2 train High-speed rail connecting all of the UK mainland would put 'rocket fuel in Britain's economy', a leading transport think tank has said. Pictured is an artist's impression of the HS2 train WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS FOR A 1,000-MILE UK HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK? A report by Surrey-based think tank Greengauge 21, titled Beyond HS2, said boosting national productivity should be the guiding priority for re-designing the rail network. -- 1. An upgraded fast route from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway carrying HS2 trains, continuing to the South West and South Wales. 2. A major upgrade to the East Coast mainline for the first time since the 1980s. 3. New high speed lines in Scotland, achieving a three-hour 15-minute journey time between Edinburgh and London. -- and powerful economic unit'. It says HS2 should be developed from a 'Y' to an 'X' shaped network. Their proposal suggests a more cautious assumption of 16 trains per hour as a maximum output through the HS2 network over the stem of the 'Y' rather than the 18 trains per hour proposed by HS2 Ltd. The think tank warns that 18 trains per hour is something that 'has not been achieved with high-speed rail anywhere to date'. Key proposals include an upgraded fast route from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway carrying HS2 trains, continuing to the South West and South Wales. HS2 (High Speed 2) is a plan to construct a a new high-speed rail linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. Pictured is a projection of the line's impact on businesses by 2037 HS2 (High Speed 2) is a plan to construct a a new high-speed rail linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. Pictured is a projection of the line's impact on businesses by 2037 HS2 (High Speed 2) is a plan to construct a a new high-speed rail linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. Pictured is a projection of the line's impact on businesses by 2037 -- This means passengers in the North East would no longer be dependent on indirect HS2 services via Birmingham to reach London. New high speed lines in Scotland would mean a three-hour 15-minute journey time between Edinburgh and London. The HS2 network is to be built in a 'Y' configuration. London will be on the bottom of the 'Y', Birmingham at the centre, Leeds at the top right and Manchester at the top left. Pictured is the lower part of the line The HS2 network is to be built in a 'Y' configuration. London will be on the bottom of the 'Y', Birmingham at the centre, Leeds at the top right and Manchester at the top left. Pictured is the lower part of the line The HS2 network is to be built in a 'Y' configuration. London will be on the bottom of the 'Y', Birmingham at the centre, Leeds at the top right and Manchester at the top left. Pictured is the lower part of the line WHAT IS HS2 AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? HS2 (High Speed 2) is a plan to construct a a new high-speed rail linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. -- line being operational by 2026. The HS2 project is being developed by High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. The project has a projected cost of £56 billion ($77 billion), up from -- 31 - up almost 30 per cent from £352.9 million the year before. It takes the total amount spent by HS2 so far to more than £1.9billion since 2009. Separate accounts published by the Department for Transport also showed it had spent another £366 million on HS2. The bulk of this was on compensating individuals and businesses who own -- Great Eastern Mainlines, both of which are at capacity. The think tank proposes a high-speed line between London to Stansted and beyond towards Cambridge and Colchester. -- Share or comment on this article: A high-speed rail network will put 'rocket fuel' in Britain's economy *