ALEX Salmond has announced a feasibility study on starting a high-speed rail link from Scotland to England.
The First Minister told a business audience in Carlisle that Scottish independence would be good for "all the nations of these islands".
Delivering a St George's Day speech, Mr Salmond insisted the UK Government's £43bn HS2 plans "lack high ambition".
The first London to Birmingham phase of the controversial scheme was expected to begin in 2017 and be completed by 2026 but that is now set to be delayed as the necessary legislation is unlikely to be passed before the 2015 General Election. Construction on the further phases to Manchester and Leeds is not due until 2025 with completion set for 2032.
Last year, Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, suggested a vote for Scottish independence would kill off any prospect of high-speed rail progressing beyond the border with Scotland.
However, in his speech Mr Salmond referred to "joint plans" with Whitehall for high speed rail links between England and Scotland with initial findings due in the summer.
He mentioned how detailed planning was being undertaken for a high-speed service between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which "could link to high-speed lines from England".
"An independent Scotland could do much more," he said. . "Rather than paying our share of the borrowing costs for high speed rail, as we wait decades for it to spread up from the south, we can use that money to build high speed rail from the north instead. It's time to take positive action."
He said: "We will establish a feasibility study to explore in detail the options for building high-speed rail from Scotland to England. In doing so, we will work closely with partners across the UK, especially in the north of England."
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