The UK government has awarded £20m to the Midlands Rail Hub project.
Proposals include 24 extra train services every hour on commuter and inter-regional services services between towns and cities including Coventry, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Lincoln, Worcester, Hereford and beyond.
Upon delivery, six million more passenger journeys every year could be made possible, with an estimated annual economic boost of £649m, said Midlands Connect, transport partner of Midlands Engine, and the Midlands’ sub-national transport body.
The £20m investment, announced in chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget on 11 March 2020, means Midlands Rail Hub can move to the next stage of development, an Outline Business Case, which will include detailed design, planning and costings.
Midlands Connect chairman, Sir John Peace, said: “This funding pledge is a firm vote of confidence from the government that it is committed to delivering the Midlands Rail Hub, an investment that will spearhead an infrastructure revolution and level up the economy.
“We believe in the potential of our proposals to revolutionise the region’s rail network; it means more services, faster journeys and less overcrowding for passengers across the Midlands and beyond.
“We must now work at pace with the government to make sure that passengers begin to see improvements to their rail journeys as soon as possible.”
According to Midlands Connect, some of the proposed improvements could start to be delivered during this parliament (from 2024), including the reopening of platform 4 at Birmingham Snow Hill station, and improvements to line speeds between Leicester and Birmingham.
Sunak’s Budget also committed funding to several road projects, including:
– Taking forward an upgrade of the A46 Newark bypass;
– Upgrades to M5 Junction 9 and a bypass on the A46 in Ashchurch, Gloucestershire;
– A link road from Chesterfield town centre to the A6192 and A619 at Staveley (Chesterfield Regeneration Route);
– Junction improvements to the A426/A4071 Avon Mill/Hunters Lane and a short dual carriageway in Rugby, Warwickshire;
– Improving transport links between North Wales and Shropshire by developing the A483 Pant Llanymynech Bypass.
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