Information sessions will be held ahead of rail station and trackworks, jointly funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
Work begins early next month (July 3) at Market Harborough, South Leicestershire, as part of a multi-million pound scheme to improve the station and car park there; and to create a straighter rail line along the Midland Main Line, to allow non-stopping trains to travel faster between London and Sheffield.
Representatives from Network Rail and station-operator East Midlands Trains will hold information sessions at Market Harborough Station on Tuesday (June 27), from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm, to answer questions about the plans.
Construction of the new car park will begin on July 3 and take around six months to complete.
D2N2 is part-funding the works to straighten the Midland Main Line track – despite the project being out of the area for which the private sector-led partnership promotes economic growth (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire) – as this is part of a wider programme to improve journey times on trains between London and Sheffield, on the Midland Main Line.
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Fast and efficient transport systems are essential for economic growth; with the scale of improvements often requiring public and private sectors to think long term, and outside their own immediate areas.
“This is why D2N2 is putting a total of £5million from its Local Growth Fund allocation into improving this Market Harborough section of the Midland Main Line. We are working with our colleagues in the neighbouring Sheffield City Region LEP and Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, and the rail industry, to boost the line’s capacity and improve train speeds on southbound services.”
For further information about the Network Rail-led project contact Amy Brenndorfer, Communications Executive, Network Rail, on email Amy.Brenndorfer@networkrail.co.uk , or telephone 01904 383180 or mobile 07730 359569.
Media requiring more information about the D2N2 LEP can contact D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org