Tuesday 18 Dec 2007
TAKE OFF FOR EAST MIDLANDS PARKWAY
- Region & Route:
Passengers across the East Midlands will soon have more choice in how they travel after Network Rail kicked off the construction of the new East Midlands Parkway station this week. The £25m project, primarily funded by Network Rail with a contribution of almost £1m from East Midlands Development Agency (emda), will see a brand new station constructed near junction 24 of the M1 at Ratcliffe-on-Soar. Dyan Crowther, Network Rail Route Director said: "The investment into East Midlands Parkway signifies our commitment to improving the rail network. Parkway will be a world class station which will provide real choices for passengers and tempt motorists from the nearby M1 to try a greener form of travel. As well as connections to London and all of the major regional centres the station will provide easy access to the nearby East Midlands Airport." East Midlands Parkway will open in December 2008 and will be situated just off the A453 at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, 1 mile from the M1. It will include four platforms, step free access, a station building with ticket office and other facilities, staffed and managed by East Midlands Trains as well as 850 car parking spaces. East Midlands Trains Managing Director, Tim Shoveller added: "We’re really pleased that building of the station is now underway. When it opens next year, East Midlands Parkway will be an example of a high quality, accessible station and we’re eager to play our part in delivering a first class station and service for our passengers. Our timetable will provide the station with fast, easy links to London, and other destinations on the East Midlands Trains network. We’re hoping that more people will be persuaded to leave the car behind and take the train." Anthony Payne, emda’s Land and Development Director, commented: "The Regional Economic Strategy emphasises good transport connectivity as the basis of a successful economy and flourishing region. That’s why emda has invested in East Midlands Parkway and we’re pleased to hear that construction of the station is now underway and is on track for completion by the end of next year."
Notes to editors
East Midlands Parkway will cost £25.5m, with a commitment of £895,000 from East Midlands Development Agency (emda). The remainder is funded by Network Rail. East Midlands Trains are also contributing funding for additional car parking spaces to bring the total number of car parking spaces from the original 500 up to 850 The station will be built to the latest environmental standards and will be one of the greenest stations yet, incorporating ground water heating and grey water recycling. The station designer is White Young Green and the principle contractor is Birse Details of the train timetable and connections to East Midlands Airport will be confirmed next year ahead of the station’s opening in December 2008 About emda emda is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) ‘A Flourishing Region’, which sets out regional priorities until 2020. The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; ‘Prosperity Through People’ and ‘Destination 2010’. In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent assessment of our work - scoring 22 out of 24. For more details visit www.emda.org.uk For more details on the proposed train timetable serving East Midlands Parkway, contact East Midlands Trains press office on 01332 262 010
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