The Campaign to Re-Open The Ivanhoe Line

[Parafox]

It'll be good for the folk of NW Leics. 

 

May I just relate an experience I had involving the Ivanhoe line?

 

We were called to a report of a body on the line where it passes through Braunstone/LFE. Reported by a train driver as "a body on the side of the track, looking immobile"

We arrived as close as possible (not far from Western Park) and then had to walk to the line carrying all our kit, just in case. We got to the location as reported. What we found was not a body but several open pages of porno mags held down by stones from the track ballast. 

 

Clearly what the driver had seen as a body, was actually some bloke lying down having a wank, next to the track. 

 

 

 

[happy85]

5 hours ago, davieG said:

https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/disused-railways-reopening-around-england-6491585?fbclid=IwAR0A2QbgiVZTNUDVr94WvyXazy7cziHu6y1T9Y7mLY3vqP6f8chlpB8xysE

 

The reopening of a major passenger line linking Burton and Leicester "looks like it will go ahead", a respected railway writer has said.

Writing in The Express, Ben Le Vay has told of all the mothballed lines that are now reopening around the country.

And he makes special reference to the Ivanhoe Line - closed to passengers as part of the controversial Beeching cuts in the 1960s.

It comes after plans were released earlier this month for seven new stations to be built in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire as part of the Ivanhoe Line proposals.

 

He wrote: "Several routes will be transformed with better track, faster speeds and frequencies. In the Midlands, it looks like the Ivanhoe Line will go ahead - from Leicester to Burton - putting maybe seven towns back on the tracks."

Game changer for Leicester 

 

No wonder they brought the Eon building 

[SecretPro]

Really looking forward to this. I dont go out that way (apart from NW Leicestershire) anywhere near enough (as a walker/hiker/village explorer).

[fuchsntf]

1 hour ago, SecretPro said:

Really looking forward to this. I dont go out that way (apart from NW Leicestershire) anywhere near enough (as a walker/hiker/village explorer).

Would Open that interesting Part of Cross Country regions again to foot Family /Tourist traffic, should also help in   province Local employment.

My parents took us on  such Family day trips,( we didnt have a car) until Beeching did his dirty work,then Mystery bus tours took over.

These train Journeys means Family- aunts,uncles,Cousins could have 1-2 short day trips out together.

[Sly]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/ambitious-plans-10-new-railway-6475118

[davieG]

What a bunch of ignorant arseholes run the Leicester Mercury

 

In this article they state that this project had failed last year   - https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-new-coalville-train-station-6934680

 

Campaigns for that have been long-running, with the most recent proposals touting the idea of Coalville also benefiting from stations at the Stephenson Industrial Estate, while Sinope and Moira would also gain a station too. However, those hopes hit the buffers last year, when the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) group missed out on vital government funding, despite the backing of several politicians.

 

However this is not true.

 

Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)

Douglas McLay  ·

 

Good Morning

I am the Rail Technology lead for CRIL, the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line.

Here is an update on the Campaign.

I was disappointed to read in the Leicestershire Live article a statement that the Campaign is dead because it missed out on vital funding last year. Both of these statements are completely untrue!!

A Strategic Outline Business Case was submitted to the Department of Transport last June as part of the Governments Restoring Your Railways Programme. This case demonstrated the need for improved transport links in the Burton to Leicester corridor and showed how a reopened rail service would make a significant contribution to the governments Levelling Up Programme

The Case was very positively received by the Department and Network Rail. Senior representatives of both organisations visited the Line recently. I met them and showed them the area and how it would benefit from restored rail links. We understand that their recommendations are now with Ministers.

The Restoring Your Railways Programme is a structured process. We were one of only a few who submitted proposals in the first stage to be selected to proceed, and we received £75k funding to prepare the Strategic Outline Business case. No results of this stage for any proposals have yet been announced, and our campaign remains a leading contender for further funding.

Our Campaign continues to be supported by local politicians of all parties, and I understand the Andrew Bridgen has recently submitted a written question in Parliament about when we will hear the outcome of our submission.

As you can see the Campaign is very much alive, and we are pushing for some positive news shortly.

[Greg2607]

i'd love for this to happen.  As a resident of Ashby, my only option for getting into Leicester is to drive by car.  Unless I want it to take 1hr 40 minutes on a bus.  I can virtually drive to York in that same amount of time!

 

For Match days in particular, this would be a god send, but even for people on a commuting route, this would really help getting into Leicester or other places along the line. 

 

Coalville is the 2nd largest town in the country without a train station, which makes the congestion on the local roads particularly bad. 

 

now clearly, i'm not involved in the bid.  But it feels like a real no brainer. 

 

They could even place a station in Ashby at the intersection of the HS2 line, which in future, could eventually give access to a london route. (i appreciate it's not meant to be a stopping service...but Leicestershire has no station for HS2 and this could provide one.)

 

 

[Voll Blau]

More good news for rail in Leicestershire:

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/direct-rail-route-between-leicester-6927220

[davieG]

https://docs.google.com/.../1HwyrPCzL9Pa.../edit

 

Ivanhoe Line User 60 Second Survey

 

The data we gather directly supports the business case for the line and effectively also acts like a petition.  So please invite your local friends into this group to do the same.

[Vlad the Fox]

18 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://docs.google.com/.../1HwyrPCzL9Pa.../edit

 

Ivanhoe Line User 60 Second Survey

 

The data we gather directly supports the business case for the line and effectively also acts like a petition.  So please invite your local friends into this group to do the same.

Filled it in and forwarded to my dad who will have far more use of it than me living out Coalville way.

[Sly]

Filled it in. 
 

I’d imagine that if cited in the Bardon / Coalville area, a station would get a fair amount of usage, due to the explosion of housing and commercial and industrial units in the area. 
 

Not sure where they’d cite the station though. 

[The Year Of The Fox]

On 04/06/2022 at 10:20, davieG said:

https://docs.google.com/.../1HwyrPCzL9Pa.../edit

 

Ivanhoe Line User 60 Second Survey

 

The data we gather directly supports the business case for the line and effectively also acts like a petition.  So please invite your local friends into this group to do the same.

Signed

 

Home games would never be the same again! 

 

 

[davieG]

 

Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)

Douglas McLay  · 41 m  · 

 

At last the news that we have been waiting for!

Our SOBC has been approved by the Rail Minister and Network Rail funded to move to the the FBC Stage!

This is exactly what we've been waiting for - our Campaign is very much alive!

 

CRIL PRESS RELEASE

Douglas McLay

RELEASE DATE:

18 June 2022

BURTON TO LEICESTER RAILWAY (IVANHOE LINE) REOPENING GETS THE GREEN LIGHT

Rail Minister Wendy Morton today announces that the case to reopen the Burton to Leicester Railway line to passengers has been approved to the next stage.

SWADLINCOTE DERBYSHIRE 18 NOVEMBER 2021

Today the Rail Minister, Wendy Morton MP, announced that she will support 10 proposals to reopen closed passenger lines in England. One of these is the proposal submitted by CRIL (The campaign to reopen the Ivanhoe Line) to reopen the railway from Burton to Leicester to passengers

Funding will be provided to Network Rail to lead the next stage of development work in collaboration with the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL). This will be released in a phased approach,with the work assessed as it progresses to support decisions on continuing development towards a full Outline Business Case and the decision to proceed with implementation.

The Department will continue working with CRIL and Network Rail on the development of this scheme, and are in touch with Douglas McLay and Bruce Wakley (CRIL) regarding next steps.

Wendy Morton said

“The Departments assessment considered the strategic and economic case presented, deliver-ability of the scheme and infrastructure requirements, with a focus on the transport issue and strength of case for intervention.

This scheme presents significant potential to improve connectivity for communities along the route of the Ivanhoe Line and I look forward to seeing it progress.”

CRIL Spokesman Douglas McLay said

“ We are delighted with this announcement which brings the re opening of the Ivanhoe Line much closer. Passenger services on the Line would provide real value for the relatively modest government investment needed.

The reopening of this railway would give a real boost to the often forgotten

populations of South Derbyshire and Northwest Leicestershire.

We look forward to working closely with the Department for Transport and Network Rail to deliver a railway service which meets the needs of local people”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

CRIL (The Campaign for the Re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line) was formed by

the late Geoff Bushell in 2019. He tirelessly raised awareness and support for the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line and formed a team of volunteer specialists to support him. He gained the public support of all nine first and second tier local authorities along the line, as well as all the local MPs, all of whom continue to support the Campaign.

The proposal to restore passenger services between Burton on Trent and Leicester, and to communities along the route, was included in the first phase of the RYR programme. CRIL received government and local authority funding to prepare a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) which was submitted to the Department ofTransport in May 2021. This SOBC now has full DFT support

[happy85]

 

[davieG]

Latest 

Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)

Douglas McLay  · 

 

Here is a slightly more detailed description of where we are following the DfT announcement last month. There are still lots of things to be resolved but Network Rail have already started work. We will keep you updated on here as things develop.

THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE IVANHOE LINE

Last month we received the fantastic news that our case for the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line had been approved by the Rail Minister to move on to the next stage. Since then we have been asked what this means and what happens next? This short article has been written to answer some of these questions and to look at how our local community can support us in achieving the re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line.

BACKGROUND

In 2019 the government announced the Restoring Your Railway Programme to facilitate the reopening of closed passenger rail services in England. CRIL immediately decided to enter the competition to select the lines to be included.

199 schemes entered the competition in three rounds. and in 2020 we were one of 39 schemes chosen to prepare a feasibility study (known as the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC). In June 2022 our SOBC was one of 9 authorised. Our proposal was one of only 3 actual passenger line reopenings to proceed. (The others are new stations or introduction of new services on lines already carrying passenger trains). There may be others from later rounds authorised in due course.

UNDERSTANDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The SOBC looked at the transport problem in the area, which mode of transport could best meet this need. A rail intervention was the best option. The SOBC then went on to look at the work required to upgrade the railway to meet the transport need and the cost of doing this work. Finally the benefits were examined and quantified so it could be seen that they justified the cost of reopening the line. The result achieved by our Case, which CRIL themselves wrote, was that we were selected to proceed to the next stage.

The Ivanhoe Line is now getting much closer to being reopened. Network Rail (who build, maintain and operate Britains’ railway infrastructure) have been awarded a substantial fully funded contract by the government to carry out a more detailed study of the costs of construction and scrutinise the benefits. If this confirms the Lines’ viability then Network Rail will be authorised to carry out the design stage with detailed specifications and costings. When these are approved work on the Line will start.

NEXT STEPS

CRIL will be handing over the baton to Network Rail, which we are very happy about. Network Rail have been very supportive of our work, and have indicated they will use our specialised local knowledge and connections with local politicians and businesses to support their work. CRIL will be a member of the Programme Board. We will be using our position to monitor Network Rails work to ensure it presents our case in the best possible light.

The detailed location of stations, access and car parking will not be decided by CRIL, but be decided by the relevant local authority planning authorities. This will ensure that local communities will be included in the decision making processes. However it is far from clear that we will use the original station sites. They need to be appropriate to meet the travelling public's needs in the 2020s.

It is likely that initially not all proposed stations will be reopened, but that more stations will be opened as required by local demand.

LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SUPPORT

CRIL will need to engage even more closely with our local stakeholders to help us carry out our role in the forthcoming stages. We will need to understand the needs of local residents and businesses more deeply than we do at present. We will also need to articulate the benefits that a reopened Ivanhoe Line will deliver. So we will continue to engage with local MPs, Local Authorities and businesses to help us to continue our work by informing our advice to Network Rail. We will also be working with residents along the Burton to Leicester corridor to gather their ideas and demonstrate their continued support for the Line.

TIMEFRAMES TO REOPEN THE LINE

At the moment we are in the preparatory phase, which is essentially a political process. Timeframes for political decisions are always difficult to predict. But we know that Network Rail would like to have work on the ground started by mid 2024, and our best guess is that it would take around 18 months to 2 years from that for the minimum infrastructure to run passenger trains on the Line to be completed. It should be noted that building the connection to the mainline into Leicester Station will take longer to achieve, and is dependent on the remodelling of the main line through Leicester, which is planned for the mid 2020s. In the meantime a station will be built in South Leicester, which will act as a temporary terminal.

 

[Paninistickers]

8 hours ago, davieG said:

Latest 

Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)

Douglas McLay  · 

 

Here is a slightly more detailed description of where we are following the DfT announcement last month. There are still lots of things to be resolved but Network Rail have already started work. We will keep you updated on here as things develop.

THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE IVANHOE LINE

Last month we received the fantastic news that our case for the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line had been approved by the Rail Minister to move on to the next stage. Since then we have been asked what this means and what happens next? This short article has been written to answer some of these questions and to look at how our local community can support us in achieving the re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line.

BACKGROUND

In 2019 the government announced the Restoring Your Railway Programme to facilitate the reopening of closed passenger rail services in England. CRIL immediately decided to enter the competition to select the lines to be included.

199 schemes entered the competition in three rounds. and in 2020 we were one of 39 schemes chosen to prepare a feasibility study (known as the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC). In June 2022 our SOBC was one of 9 authorised. Our proposal was one of only 3 actual passenger line reopenings to proceed. (The others are new stations or introduction of new services on lines already carrying passenger trains). There may be others from later rounds authorised in due course.

UNDERSTANDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The SOBC looked at the transport problem in the area, which mode of transport could best meet this need. A rail intervention was the best option. The SOBC then went on to look at the work required to upgrade the railway to meet the transport need and the cost of doing this work. Finally the benefits were examined and quantified so it could be seen that they justified the cost of reopening the line. The result achieved by our Case, which CRIL themselves wrote, was that we were selected to proceed to the next stage.

The Ivanhoe Line is now getting much closer to being reopened. Network Rail (who build, maintain and operate Britains’ railway infrastructure) have been awarded a substantial fully funded contract by the government to carry out a more detailed study of the costs of construction and scrutinise the benefits. If this confirms the Lines’ viability then Network Rail will be authorised to carry out the design stage with detailed specifications and costings. When these are approved work on the Line will start.

NEXT STEPS

CRIL will be handing over the baton to Network Rail, which we are very happy about. Network Rail have been very supportive of our work, and have indicated they will use our specialised local knowledge and connections with local politicians and businesses to support their work. CRIL will be a member of the Programme Board. We will be using our position to monitor Network Rails work to ensure it presents our case in the best possible light.

The detailed location of stations, access and car parking will not be decided by CRIL, but be decided by the relevant local authority planning authorities. This will ensure that local communities will be included in the decision making processes. However it is far from clear that we will use the original station sites. They need to be appropriate to meet the travelling public's needs in the 2020s.

It is likely that initially not all proposed stations will be reopened, but that more stations will be opened as required by local demand.

LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SUPPORT

CRIL will need to engage even more closely with our local stakeholders to help us carry out our role in the forthcoming stages. We will need to understand the needs of local residents and businesses more deeply than we do at present. We will also need to articulate the benefits that a reopened Ivanhoe Line will deliver. So we will continue to engage with local MPs, Local Authorities and businesses to help us to continue our work by informing our advice to Network Rail. We will also be working with residents along the Burton to Leicester corridor to gather their ideas and demonstrate their continued support for the Line.

TIMEFRAMES TO REOPEN THE LINE

At the moment we are in the preparatory phase, which is essentially a political process. Timeframes for political decisions are always difficult to predict. But we know that Network Rail would like to have work on the ground started by mid 2024, and our best guess is that it would take around 18 months to 2 years from that for the minimum infrastructure to run passenger trains on the Line to be completed. It should be noted that building the connection to the mainline into Leicester Station will take longer to achieve, and is dependent on the remodelling of the main line through Leicester, which is planned for the mid 2020s. In the meantime a station will be built in South Leicester, which will act as a temporary terminal.

 

Saffron Lane athletic track seems the obvious site

[Free Falling Foxes]

4 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

Saffron Lane athletic track seems the obvious site

Didn't they once also suggest somewhere along the Hinckley Road, just past Western Park?

[Stadt]

16 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

Saffron Lane athletic track seems the obvious site

 

12 hours ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Didn't they once also suggest somewhere along the Hinckley Road, just past Western Park?

Enough land around the athletics stadium 

 

 

[davieG]

Needs to be station near a park and ride into the centre if they're not doing the final link, Meynals is the best on and it would serve the Braunstone Frith Industrial Park. Near the M1 Junction as well.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Meynell's+Gorse+Park+%26+Ride/@52.6279435,-1.2035092,480m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x48775e16c484af89:0x2056a52694c041b4!8m2!3d52.6280149!4d-1.2031797

[Paninistickers]

I'm guessing if the station is to be called South Leicester, then saffron Lane is the only location that loosely meets that description.....but it'd be a bit of a traipse from freeman's common in to town. 

 

Either way, the train ticket should ideally include a ride from.Meynells into town or a bus ride from.saffron Lane/ Welford Rd/ Aylestone Rd onto town 

 

 

[davieG]

Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)

Douglas McLay  · 

Bruce Wakley and I have been down to Westminster today to meet with the government and Network Rail, as well as local MPs and the Tier 1 councils.

The meeting was both very positive and productive. The purpose of the meeting was for us all to be briefed by Network Rail about the design to build stage of our Programme. This is the final stage of the feasibility study work before the Decision to Build is made.

There were no surprises in what we were told, confirming the information that we have previously shared on here. The government confirmed that they are using a fast track decision-making process with a view to Network Rail starting work in mid 2024. This of course depends on the scheme passing through the intermediate checkpoints.

Our MPs expressed their support and CRIL updated the meeting about our proposed governance arrangements with local councils which the Government, MPs and Network Rail endorsed. We will tell you more about these shortly when they are adopted.

All in all a very useful and positive session. The work goes on!

[Stadt]

10 hours ago, davieG said:

Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL)

Douglas McLay  · 

Bruce Wakley and I have been down to Westminster today to meet with the government and Network Rail, as well as local MPs and the Tier 1 councils.

The meeting was both very positive and productive. The purpose of the meeting was for us all to be briefed by Network Rail about the design to build stage of our Programme. This is the final stage of the feasibility study work before the Decision to Build is made.

There were no surprises in what we were told, confirming the information that we have previously shared on here. The government confirmed that they are using a fast track decision-making process with a view to Network Rail starting work in mid 2024. This of course depends on the scheme passing through the intermediate checkpoints.

Our MPs expressed their support and CRIL updated the meeting about our proposed governance arrangements with local councils which the Government, MPs and Network Rail endorsed. We will tell you more about these shortly when they are adopted.

All in all a very useful and positive session. The work goes on!

Fantastic news

[davieG]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-63427780.amp?fbclid=IwAR0prJPZq9NAC39S7aBpqRC86-oXn6XvDupvJz6SqDA_z4pZ8AaNlXlxuoQ

 

Plan to reopen Ivanhoe Line backed by businesses
By Jennifer Harby
BBC News
29 October 2022
A railway line
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Network Rail is studying the costs and benefits

A bid to reopen a passenger railway line which was closed as part of the Beeching cuts has been backed by business leaders.

The Ivanhoe Line, between Burton-upon-Trent and Leicester, was closed to passenger trains in the 1960s.

A campaign to restore the 31-mile (50km) route saw it selected as part in the government's £500m Restoring Your Railway programme.

The East Midlands Chamber said it hoped the project could be brought to life.

The Ivanhoe line has been the focus of numerous campaigns to reopen it since it was closed to passengers following a report written by Dr Richard Beeching.

In June the Campaign for Reopening the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL), saw its project chosen, as one of nine from 39 schemes, to move on to the next stage by the Department for Transport.

Network Rail will now provide funding to conduct a detailed study of the costs of construction and scrutinise the benefits as part of a full outline business case.

If this confirms the line's viability, it will carry out design work and, subject to Government approval, work could begin in mid-2024 with a 2026 opening date.

'Economic boost'
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: "Following the monumental efforts from the CRIL team of volunteers to reopen this historic railway line, bringing the project into the scope of Network Rail is a welcoming development and will raise hopes it can be brought to life.

"While there is still a long way to go, bringing this important rail route back to life would provide a boost to the economy for the many communities along the route.

"The proposed Leicester South station, meanwhile, would complement Leicester City's plans for an expanded King Power Stadium and wider development scheme."

CRIL's business liaison manager Stacey Ash said: "The decision to take our project to the next stage is a fantastic boost for the communities along the Ivanhoe Line, which could benefit from improved journey times and better connectivity across the region."

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We welcome the opportunity to work with all stakeholders along the line to further develop the business case to justify the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line to passengers, building on the work done so far by CRIL."

[davieG]

ITV filming at Gresley and Coalville for a report on the line tonight. ITV East Midlands news from 1800

 

[davieG]

https://ashby.nub.news/news/local-news/ashby-based-company-backs-the-re-opening-of-the-ivanhoe-line-and-offers-its-services-to-speed-up-progress-158857?fbclid=IwAR0nHT8809Yysuk9yc9YBvLsbyHlbEceaV-6lELoxwyy4vmfS6oFCvg3GAI

 

Ashby-based company backs re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line - and offers its services to speed up the process
By Graham Hill

A major Ashby business has backed the return of a passenger railway line through thtough the town - and says it can help to get it re-opened more quickly.

Siemens Mobility UK, which is based in Coalfield Way, welcomes the prospect of the Ivanhoe Line running between Burton on Trent and Leicester.

The company says it would like its employees to travel to work by train.

Campaigners for the line - most notably the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line - are working with Network Rail and the Government to get trains running again through North West Leicestershire.

The Ivanhioe Line schmee has met with fabvourable responses so far and there is a quiet confidence that the plans can become reality.

If things go to plan, work could start on the line in 2024 - and be open by 2026.

Managing Director for Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility UK, Rob Morris, said: "It's great news that reopening the Ivanhoe Line for passengers has moved a step closer.

"As a long term investor in Ashby – our local engineering and manufacturing facility is 50 years old this year – and world-leading rail business, we want our people to be able to get to work by train.

"Our know-how and technology could help get the line reopened more quickly and cost effectively, helping with the right solution to improve journey times and connectivity across the region, and support regeneration and a healthy environment.

"We could, for example, use our UK-built modular signalling which is already helping to reopen a similar line in Northumberland.

"And our station management systems made right here in Ashby could be rolled out to new and old station between Leicester and Burton-upon-Trent, helping transform the economy of the region and level up the UK."