TRAIN passengers in Derbyshire could end up footing the bill for the Government's planned £30bn high-speed rail network regardless of whether it stops in the county.

Last week Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced his plans for a 335-mile high-speed network that would run through the East Midlands.

But it remains unclear whether an East Midlands stop will be in Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, somewhere in between or at more than one location.

However, ministers may introduce a "high-speed rail" tax levied on all rail tickets to help fund the network – meaning even passengers in places the high-speed trains do not stop could end up paying for them.

Derby North MP Bob Laxton said: "I don't think that would be fair really. I understand they need to raise large sums of money to pay for the network but any charges have to be targeted. The people who use the network should pay and, to raise the money beforehand, some sort of taxation on the places it's going to might be better. But if it doesn't come to Derbyshire, everyone who uses all of the other trains on the conventional network shouldn't be taxed."

The levy, which could see passengers' rail tickets rise by 1%, would collect about £50m to £75m every year.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail user watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "People tell us their top priority for improvement on the railway is train tickets offering excellent value for money.

"As governments and industry progress their long-term planning for the rail network, value for money fares should be central to their decision making."

Ministers want a Y-shaped network with a line initially running from London to Birmingham, a section of the route already intricately planned.

Once in the West Midlands the line would split, with one branch heading north to Manchester, and another going to the East Midlands and Yorkshire. A report outlines a number of other funding options for the scheme to supplement direct investment from the Government.

They include an additional levy on air fares, an increase in business rates and council tax in areas served by the network, and selling off land around stations for development.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "A fair balance should be struck in terms of the contributions made by all of those who would benefit from any new high-speed network."