Harborough rail users
Improving the quality of Market Harborough's rail service
HS2 remains controversial but it is planned to construct an 'eastern leg' from an interchange station near Birmingham to Leeds via an East Midlands Hub station at Toton, half-way between Nottingham and Derby. None of these is anywhere near Market Harborough!
However, sub-national transport body Midlands Connect, which brings together local authority, business and transport interests across the Midlands, has published proposals to make more effective use of HS2 by means of direct links into the cities. This would mean, for example, trains running between the city centre stations in Nottingham and Birmingham via existing tracks as far as new junctions with HS2, which would then allow much faster journeys and encourage significant transfer from the roads for such journeys. One such proposal is for an hourly service between Bedford and Leeds, using an upgraded and electrified Midland Main Line as far as the Toton Hub, then HS2 northwards. Market Harborough is mentioned as one of the stations that would be served, along with Wellingborough, Kettering, Leicester and Loughborough. Further information is available at https://www.railbusinessdaily.com/hs2-to-serve-nottingham-and-leicester-city-centres-under-plans-submitted-to-government-and-hs2-review-by-midlands-connect/?. Such a service would greatly improve Market Harborough's connections to the north. As such, and leaving aside all the other arguments about HS2, it would be welcome. However, it must not be at the expense of our two-trains-per-hour service to London. |
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