Super-fast - 250mph - trains could stop in Leicestershire
Super-fast trains which race from London at 250mph may stop in Leicestershire under plans for a high-speed rail network.
The £30bn scheme would run from London to Birmingham and then split, with one branch running to Manchester and another running to Leeds via the East Midlands.
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Transport minister Paul Clark at Leicester station, where he outlined plans for a high-speed rail network
Under the proposals unveiled yesterday, a station serving Leicester, Nottingham and Derby would be created, but it is not yet known where it will be. One suggestion is it could be at East Midlands Parkway, near Castle Donington.
Transport minister Paul Clark, speaking at Leicester station yesterday, said: "It's sensible to have the station where it will be easily accessible to as many people as possible. So it's clear it needs to be accessible to the three cities of the East Midlands."
He said the rail link, planned for completion by 2030, would bring major economic benefits to Leicestershire and the rest of the region.
If it did come to Leicestershire it would mean only a slight cut in the one hour 10 minutes travel time, as trains would travel on from Birmingham.
Business leaders in Leicestershire say they would prefer to see the electrification of the Midland Mainline which would slash journey times between the city and the capital to 35 minutes.
Leicester South MP Peter Soulsby, who sits on the Commons Transport Committee, said: "As exciting as high-speed rail is, it is not the immediate future.
"It must not be built at the expense of upgrades to the existing track around Leicester, in particular the electrification of the Midland Mainline, which we desperately need now."
Nick Carter, chairman of economic development agency Prospect Leicestershire, welcomed the link, but said: "There is an immediate need for electrification of the existing direct line from London to Leicester. That can be done more quickly and for less money."
Martin Traynor, managing director of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I would like to see this Government commit to the electrification of Midland Mainline."
Estate agents said the new rail link would see the county become more attractive to London commuters.
Charles Beretta, director of James Sellicks estate agents in Leicester, said: "It will have a positive effect on prices."
A spokeswoman for East Midlands Airport said it was too early to say what benefits the rail link would bring to its business.
10 Comments
by Eric Goodyer, unity house
Friday, March 12 2010, 3:54PM
“The new time-table for Parkway provided new routes to London at the expense of local commuters. We do need high speed rail, but there is a lot that can be done locally as well to provide better short distance rail - such as re-instating services on the Ivanhoe Line, opening the National Forest Rail Line , and providing credible cross-links. We do tend to be too London focused at times when examining rail prioritities. Yes let's have high speed rail, and quickly, their does seem to be thankfully all-party support. But we need immediate action to improve what we already have - else we will pay the price with increased road congestion.”
by Charlotte, Leic
Friday, March 12 2010, 2:07PM
“With investigations into a train derailing at 100mph how is this a sensible idea to increase speed???!!!!!”
by Dougal, Leicester
Friday, March 12 2010, 1:34PM
“The last two comments are exactly right. The proposed East Midlands station is likely to be near East Midlands Airport and therefore it is unlikely that it would be any quicker than using the existing (electrified) main line. If however, the Great Central route hadn't been built over in Leicester then we would have had a better chance of having our own station. Last laugh to the Bowstring Bridge?”
by Nick, Leicester
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:54PM
“Just shows how out of touch New Labour are! If they (old Labour) saved the Great Central back in the 1960's when they came into power (Which they promised they would review Dr Beeching's report) then this country would of had a line that could of been used from Manchester all the way to the Channel tunnel which would of been easy to upgrade to high speeds.
Please try harder next time you get back into power.”
by aehihc, Westcotes
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:11PM
“Neil, has hit the nail on the head. You can do Leicester to St. Pancras in 67 minutes at the moment so why would you get a train to, say, EMP (15 minutes) to wait for a high-speed train to take you to London via Birmingham ? Where is the time saving ?
I'm all for public transport and a high-speed, TGV style rail line would be fantastic but it would only become useful over long distances with few stops.”
by Ross Grant, Leicester
Friday, March 12 2010, 11:51AM
“The failure of Paul Clarke MP to commit to delivering electrification for the midland mainline shows this up as a pre-election gimmick.
The east midlands link is pure speculation.
The government has shown a real lack of vision to delivering integrated transport for over a decade and there is no indication it has got to grips with it for Leicester or the UK now.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Friday, March 12 2010, 11:23AM
“Talking Taurus,
You forgot 'Cuckoo Land'.”
by Talking Taurus, leics
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:49AM
“Rearrange the famous word ' Could'
to discover if this is a silver lining..or number nine...”
by Neil, Leicester
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:45AM
“The servcie would go to Birmingham at high speed, then to EM Parkway presumably a normal speed as there wouldn't be enough distance to crank up to full throttle, when we would have to change to a normal train to get back to Leicester. Would this really be faster than what we have at the moment?
Also with all the "engineering works" needed to do this, wouldn't it slow the existing services even more?”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:45AM
“I think the operative word in the title is 'Could'.”