Proposals to create a £12bn rail link from Epsom to north east London have been welcomed by the local MP as a positive "boost" for the area.

Business lobbying group London First announced its recommendations on Tuesday for the next stage of the government’s high frequency railway - Crossrail 2.

Crossrail 1, a £14billion project, is already under construction and due for completion in 2018.

The proposed route for Crossrail 2, which would cost in the region of £12billion, would involve building an underground tunnel from Wimbledon to Tottenham Hale via Tooting Broadway, Clapham Junction, and a number of central London stops.

The route would include separate branches at Wimbledon, leading to Epsom, Chessington South via Surbiton, Hampton Court and Twickenham via Kingston.

If the recommendations are agreed to by the Government, Epsom station could be the end of the line for Crossrail 2 which is not expected to be built until at least 2031.

Chris Grayling MP said: "It’s a very exciting concept. We will need to improve our infrastructure in the future to make it happen and it is a longer term project with a big price tag.

"But to have an enhanced train line coming through Epsom will only provide a boost for the area."

He also said the announcement can only be positive in terms of getting Epsom station into Zone 6.

An Epsom council spokesman said the recommendations are at a "very early stage", but that Epsom’s inclusion in the proposed route is an "interesting development".

He added: "The council will engage with the bodies concerned at the appropriate time to lobby for what is in the best interests for the borough and its residents."

The plan is backed by London's mayor, Boris Johnson, who said the case for Crossrail 2 was "incontestable".

Lord Adonis, chair of the London First taskforce for Crossrail, said: "We urge the mayor and central government to take forward preparations for Crossrail 2, including a credible funding plan embracing the public and private sectors, with a view to construction in the 2020s.

"London has opened only one and a half new underground lines since the Second World War (the Victoria line and the Jubilee Line Extension).

"Crossrail 2 will be as essential as Crossrail 1 for London to provide jobs and prosperity in the next generation."

They also said the need for Crossrail 2 has become greater since the Government decided to press ahead with a new high-speed rail link to Birmingham and the North (High Speed 2, or HS2) - which would put more strain on Euston station.