Media centre

Thursday 29 Jan 2015

Have your say on the future of rail in the East Midlands

Region & Route:

Network Rail has published a draft report which examines the options for long term improvements to railway in the East Midlands.

The report, “East Midlands Route Study”, is a draft for consultation as part of the rail industry’s long term planning process.

Rail passenger usage in the East Midlands has increased by 40% over the past ten years and freight has grown at a rate of 2.5% since the mid-1990s. This pattern is forecast to continue with passenger numbers set to increase by up to 40% by 2023 and as much as 114% by 2043.

Route managing director for Network Rail, Phil Verster, said: “This is already an exciting time for the railway in the East Midlands. By the end of 2020 electrically powered trains will be running on the Midland Main Line Route between Sheffield and St Pancras International; more trains will be able to operate between Kettering and Corby; and we will have unlocked a significant bottle neck at Derby, improving services for passengers.

“This study looks beyond 2020 to identify potential investments which will help us to deliver even better services for passengers and maximise the way we use our network to support the economy of the east midlands.”

The study has been developed by Network Rail in partnership with industry partners in accordance with the long term planning process which is specified by Department for Transport. It identifies a value for money case for the further lengthening of trains by 2023 on the services between:

• Birmingham – Leicester – Stansted Airport/Cambridge

• Norwich – Nottingham – Sheffield – Liverpool

• Southampton/Reading to Newcastle via Derby

• Plymouth to Edinburgh/Glasgow via Derby

A number of infrastructure enhancements have also been identified as priorities for 2023 to provide for forecast growth in demand. These are:

• Wigston Junction to Syston Junction; upgrade to four tracks and separation of the Midland Main Line and the line to Nuneaton at Wigston Junction through either a flyover or fly under

• two additional platforms at Leicester station

• new facilities to allow more trains to operate at Bedford

• signalling improvements between Syston Junction and Peterborough to allow more services to run

Network Rail is also developing the case for the extension of the East West Rail link from the Bedford area to Cambridge.

Options for extension to the electrification currently being constructed will be published over the next few months.

The improvements identified in the study provide options for funders and are not committed schemes. Potential funders include national government, Local Enterprise Partnerships and local authorities.