New Leicester-Rugby route?

A PROPOSAL to reconnect Leicester with Rugby by rail has emerged and is to be progressed under the DfT’s ‘Restoring Your Railways’ scheme.

Backed by South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, the proposed line would use part of the extant Midland route from Rugby for around three miles before crossing the M6 and A5 roads and heading north-east using a new alignment to join with the former Great Central Railway London Extension trackbed, just south of Lutterworth.

It would continue on the GC formation to just beyond Whetstone, where another triangular junction would connect it to the Leicester Birmingham line. Stations are planned at Lutterworth and one to serve Cosby and Whetstone.

On the section between Rugby and Lutterworth a freight branch with a triangular junction would serve the huge Magna Park warehousing complex, which is currently being expanded to almost double its present size. Used by the likes of Asda, Toyota, Nissan, Wayfair and Lidl, inbound goods by rail currently use the DIRFT site a few miles down the A5 or other nearby terminals.

At present, passenger journeys from Nottingham, Derby or Leicester to Northampton and Milton Keynes have to be undertaken by road as there is no realistic rail option. This new line would open up many new journey opportunities as part of Government decarbonisation aims.

In addition, 3,000 new homes are planned for Lutterworth to tie in with the increased warehousing under construction, greatly expanding its 9,800 population.

While it is early days, there is opposition from Lutterworth residents who have houses on the former GC trackbed.