Midland Mail Line receives £53M in upgrades

The UK Minister for Rail, Andrew Jones, saw use of the £53.3M investment to the Midland Main Line on 27^th June 2019 as part of the government’s £1.5Bn upgrade.

The funding will be allocated towards improvement of the Market Harborough station, lengthening platforms, increasing seating, and the replacement of four km of tracks.

So far, progress is being made on the lengthening of two platforms at Market Harborough, 300 new car parking spaces have been created (soon to be extended to 500), and new footbridges and lifts have been added to the station.

Such improvements have all been added to allow a greater number of people easier access to both trains and stations, as well as spacious and comfortable journeys.

Rail Minister Andrew Jones stated: “The transformative upgrade of the Midland Line is coming to life, focused on delivering significantly better journeys for rail passengers right across the region.

“Through key upgrades at stations like Market Harborough, the arrival of a new fleet with more seats, and trials of innovative hydrogen-fuelled trains, we are creating a railway that is fit for the future.

“The Midlands Rail Hub also has huge potential to future proof the region’s railway by significantly increasing capacity on the network. I am delighted to receive these proposals, which we will now consider closely.”

Midlands Connect have also outlined their business plan for the Midlands Rail Hub, bolstered by £5M from the Department of Transport, which shall enable an additional six million journeys and thus make room for a further £649M in growth.

Midlands Connect Chair Sir John Peace added: “The Midlands Rail Hub is a cost-effective, evidence-led plan to upgrade our infrastructure to meet the demands of the future.

“This investment must happen alongside delivering HS2 in its entirety, from the West Midlands to the East Midlands and on to the north of England, and I look forward to working with the government as they consider our proposals.”

The improvements to Market Harborough follow the latest £200M upgrade to Derby station, as well as construction of the new Ikeston station. Plans are also in place to develop the Retford and Alfreton Parkway station within the next five years.

The £1.5Bn upgrade is the largest work achieved on the Midland Main Line since its creation in 1870 and aims to reduce environmental impacts between Sheffield, Nottingham, and London.

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