Locations of new train stations built along Ivanhoe Line revealed
The locations of the new train stations set to be built along a new line between Burton and Leicester have been revealed. Rishi Sunak yesterday announced the historic Ivanhoe line through East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire would be rebuilt.
And now Burton[1] and Uttoxeter MP Kate Kniveton has revealed two new stations will be built along the route – in Castle Gresley and Ashby. The announcement came as the Prime Minister revealed the northern leg of HS2 would be scrapped – but a host of smaller-scale transport projects will now go ahead with the £38 million saved by the Government.
Among the other towns, villages and cities serviced by the new line will be Derby, Willington, Burton and Coalville. It comes after years of lobbying work by the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) group.
Ms Kniveton said: “I am delighted that the Ivanhoe line will be reopened, allowing Burton residents to travel to more destinations across the East and West Midlands by rail. This will also mean more trains serving Burton railway station and increased frequency of services to Derby.”
“I want to pay tribute to the team at Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line and particularly the group’s previous chairman, the late Geoff Bushell. They have worked incredibly hard to carry these proposals over the line from conception to where we are now. This is a great result for them and for Burton.”
The Ivanhoe Line was closed to passengers in 1964 when it fell victim to the Dr Beeching Cuts. This was when British Railways chairman Dr Richard Beeching closed thousands of stations and hundreds of branch lines to make the nationalised railways profitable again.
The line is thought to have taken its name from the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. The medieval-based book is set in the National Forest, through which the line passes.
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References
- ^ Burton (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Project to bulldoze A50 gridlock roundabouts finally gets green light (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Rishi Sunak announces new train line linking Burton and South Derbyshire to major city (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Sign up for free email alerts to StaffordshireLive straight to your inbox here (data.reachplc.com)