Lincoln to benefit from faster Nottingham to London trains

Lincoln residents travelling to London on trains via Nottingham will see their journeys improved over the next few years due to extra line investment.

By 2019, passengers travelling to the capital via Nottingham can expect more trains, seats and faster journeys due to a five-year £1.6 billion investment programme by Network Rail and its industry partners in the East Midlands.

By 2019 16% more passengers are expected to be travelling on the network.

Network Rail also said demand for rail freight is predicted to increase by 23%.

To keep up with demand from passengers and freight, the Midland Main Line will be electrified.

Electrification will reach Corby at the end of 2017 with Nottingham and Derby to follow at the end of 2019 and Sheffield at the end of 2020.

Additionally, track, signals, and bridges will be replaced and renewed, and work will be put into improving earthworks and drainage to cope with extreme weather.

An engineer works on overhead electric cabling for line electrification. Photo: Network Rail

Phil Verster, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, said: “Our investment plans are crucial to making sure we can meet demand whilst maintaining a safe and reliable service and making the improvements in performance passengers rightly expect.”

David Horne, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, added: “Projects like electrification of the Midland Main Line, journey time improvements and steps to allow more trains to run on key routes will make a huge practical difference for people and businesses in our region who depend on the railway.”

Level crossing safety

Speaking about safety on the railway, Phil Verster added: “The safety of everyone who comes into contact with the railway, whether as a passenger, worker or user of a level crossing remains of the utmost importance.

“We will continue to close level crossings where possible and make improvements when closure is not an option.

“At the same time, along with our colleagues in the train operators, we are committed to make significant improvements in the number of trains which run on time.

“We are running more trains than ever before and performance remains a tough challenge. Our investment programme over the next five years will help to address the issues of congestion and ageing infrastructure to help drive up train performance.”