Sunday 2 Apr 2017
Two northern regions set to benefit from economic boost as two new stations open
- Region & Route:
- | Eastern
Rail passengers across the north of England are today feeling the benefit of significant rail investment as two new stations opened for the first time.
Ilkeston station in Derbyshire and Low Moor station in West Yorkshire have become the latest additions to Britain’s rail network, with both stations bringing huge economic benefits in growth, jobs and housing to the communities they serve.
It’s over 50 years since either Ilkeston or Low Moor had rail stations, and both regions can now celebrate the increased connectivity to other towns and cities across the north. The stations will also help serve with the ever increasing demand for rail travel, with passenger numbers having doubled in the past 20 years - and set to continue rising.
The opening of the stations showcases vital collaboration between the rail industry and stakeholders, and demonstrates what the industry working at its best to deliver significant upgrades to the railway and providing the best possible service for passengers.
Paul McKeown, director of route sponsorship for the London North Eastern and East Midlands route, said: “This is a very important day for the two regions which are celebrating their new stations. We know that investment in rail helps deliver economic benefits in terms of growth, jobs and housing and that stations like these will help serve the growing demand for rail travel across the north.”
Notes
Ilkeston station has been built by Network Rail, will be managed by East Midlands Trains and was funded by Derbyshire County Council.
Low Moor station was also built by Network Rail and will be managed by Northern. The project was funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and is the third new station to open in West Yorkshire in the last 18 months. The stations at Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge and Low Moor show continued investment into the railway in the North.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - Amy Brenndorfer
Programme Manager, Communications
07730359569
Amy.Brenndorfer@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
Follow us on Twitter: @networkrail
Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk