East Midlands: These major road and rail upgrades secure funding

Two major roads projects and two regional rail projects will see a share of billions in funding to be spent on upgrades that will directly benefit residents and businesses in the East Midlands, helping to unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, improve travel, and support local growth.  These projects will have major benefits for residents, commuters and businesses in the region. It will mean better road and rail links, more reliable and quicker journeys, new jobs and new homes and a stronger, more connected regional economy 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: "I'm delighted the Government is backing major transport upgrades that will make a real difference to people and businesses across the East Midlands. This funding is on top of the GBP2bn already committed to our region by the Chancellor last month and is yet more evidence that the East Midlands is the best bet in Britain today. "Funding for the A46 Newark Bypass and the A38 Derby Junctions is a big win for our region, cutting congestion, improving journey times, and unlocking thousands of jobs and new homes.

"Since day one as Mayor, I've made it my mission to secure the investment our region needs and I'm proud to see that effort delivering results.

"The A46 is a critical route for our economy, and upgrading the Newark Bypass is essential to keep people and freight moving. The A38 improvements in Derby will help deliver 15,000 new homes and hundreds of new businesses, helping the city grow sustainably. "I'm also delighted to see a firm commitment to the Midlands Rail Hub, the most significant rail investment in a generation for our region.

More trains, faster journeys, and better connections into our region, from Birmingham, mean more opportunities for people and a greener, more accessible transport system for everyone. "These announcements mark real progress, and I'll keep working to turn them into reality."

Road Upgrades in the East Midlands 

A46 Newark Bypass

This long-awaited upgrade will ease congestion and improve journey times on a key route between the M1 and A1, benefiting commuters and businesses. The stretch between Farndon Junction and the A1 is the last single-carriageway link between the M1 and A1, often causing long delays.  

What's changing? 

• A new dual carriageway bridge over the A1  

• Improved traffic signals at Farndon roundabout  

• A larger, upgraded Winthorpe roundabout  

• A new junction at Cattle Market roundabout  

This upgrade will cut congestion, reduce travel times, and improve reliability--making daily journeys easier and helping businesses save on transport costs. It's also expected to support up to 5,000 new jobs and 7,500 new homes, subject to planning approval. 

A38 Derby Junctions

Improvements to three major roundabouts on the A38: Kingsway, Markeaton, and Little Eaton will reduce delays and make travel safer and more reliable. These road schemes will make it easier for people to get to work, reduce traffic jams, and help local businesses move goods more efficiently. 

This is a major boost for Derby's economy and daily life, helping thousands of people get where they need to go more efficiently.

This project is set to support 15,400 new homes and unlock employment land for future business growth. 

Rail Upgrades

Midlands Rail Hub (including Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Lincoln)

This is the biggest rail investment in the region in a generation. It will bring faster, more frequent trains, more than 50 new or improved connections, and thousands of extra seats every day.  The Midlands Rail Hub has secured major funding to transform train services across the region, including Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, and Lincoln. 

What's coming:  

• Faster, more frequent trains  

• Over 20 million extra seats and 300 new services daily  

• Better connections between the regions and the South West, and beyond  

This once-in-a-generation investment will make commuting easier, support new housing and to create nearly 13,000 construction jobs, and bring the East and West Midlands closer together.  

East Coast Main Line (serving Newark)

The East Coast Main Line, which runs through a key East Midlands location - Newark, is getting a major upgrade that which will reduce delays by a third and improve reliability for passengers and freight.   What's changing: 

• New digital signalling to improve reliability and reduce delays by a third  

• Increased capacity and frequency of services  

• Support for 4,800 new jobs in the rail supply chain  

This upgrade will make journeys quicker and more dependable for passengers and freight. For people in the East Midlands, it means better access to jobs, education, and services - plus a more modern, efficient railway that supports future growth.

This upgrade will also support 4,800 new jobs in the rail supply chain.