LEICESTER IS THE WORST-CONNECTED BIG CITY BY RAIL IN BRITAIN

[Langston]

Leicester really isn't all that bad, there are plenty of similar sized cities worse off

[Mr Mister]

Privatisation is to blame.

[Voll Blau]

Quote

Plans to reopen a historic railway line between Burton and Leicester have taken a "major step forward".

Bosses behind the scheme, which aims to see passenger trains run on the Ivanhoe Line for the first time since 1964, have revealed that a feasibility study is now due to be carried out.

This will investigate whether plans are realistic and could be achieved.

The Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) has been campaigning for the route to reopen since January 2019.

It closed roughly 50 years ago, having operated for more than 100 years through South Derbyshire , before being cut as part of the infamous Beeching cuts in 1964.

Freight trains still continue to operate on the line.

According to CRIL, a meeting was held at Leicester City Hall in September, with Leicestershire County Council.

According to chiefs at the group, this is a "major step forward" as they look to create a business case in the future.

Group chairman Geoff Bushell, who is retired and from Swadlincote, warned that although he was pleased by this step, it was just the beginning.

Mr Bushell said: "This is a great responsibility but also a great opportunity which must be seized with both hands, this is just the first step in a lengthy process .

"We look forward to working with all the parties involved to ensure we achieve the desired outcome and thank them for their support, without which this endeavour would not have been possible."

Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton said: "We would welcome the Leicester to Burton line being brought back into use for passengers.

"We've met with representatives of CRIL and advised them that we are willing to contribute funding to support a feasibility study on the basis other local authorities along the line will do the same.

"The details around a study are in the very early stages of being developed, but it would be an independent study commissioned by CRIL."

When the group launched earlier this year, it was claimed that reopening the route to passengers would bring about a number of benefits.

This includes new stations opening in Ashby, Moira and Swadlincote, while "thousands of cars" would be removed from the roads.

MPs for Burton, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire, Andrew Griffiths, Heather Wheeler and Andrew Bridgen, have all attended meetings of the group to hear about the benefits.

The next meeting of CRIL will be held at the Railway Inn, in Midway Road, Swadlincote on Thursday, November 14, starting at 7pm.

All are welcome to attend to hear about the plans.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/latest-move-reopen-historic-railway-3474803?_ga=2.27764028.1804467483.1572271718-1104876321.1457953569

[UniFox21]

17 minutes ago, Voll Blau said:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/latest-move-reopen-historic-railway-3474803?_ga=2.27764028.1804467483.1572271718-1104876321.1457953569

In other words, they'll take a look at it to see if it's 'feasible' and then probably say no anyhow