Midlands Connect’s Strategic Outline Business Case to The Department for Transport to make trains quicker strongly welcomed by Newark Business Club, but would not go far emough

Newark Business Club has welcomed a bid for £18m to provide faster trains through Castle Station, but say there is still a distance to go.

Midlands Connect is submitting a Strategic Outline Business Case to The Department for Transport, calling for the investment to improve journey times between Nottingham and Newark and Lincoln.

A report titled ‘All change: The Castle Line’, details proposals to make train travel more attractive, reduce car dependence and benefit the local economies.

Currently just 10% of journeys between Nottingham and Lincoln are taken by rail, but if these plans get the go ahead, trains will increase from predominantly 50mph to 75mph throughout the route.

The chairman of Newark Business Club’s action group, Michael Hardy said faster trains would be a bigger draw to a more sustainable form of transport, but what was also required was a greater number of trains to at least two per hour with no gaps in the timetable.

“As a starting point, any investment to the Newark Castle line is a welcome investment, said Mr Hardy.

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“Making journey times shorter will definitely get more people into using rail and more cars off the roads, a more sustainable environmental solution.

“It is admitted that usage on that line is a low market share. That would change if there was an improvement in the number of trains. We have a lower number of services still compared to pre-covid levels.”

Mr Hardy said an increase in the regularity of trains would reduce the issues of overcrowding, which is so bad passengers sometimes are left behind because they are unable to board at Castle.

There are issues. And [the opeartor} EMR is aware of them. There are hinderances at present such as limited rolling stock – not enough carriages – and the stock being old.

“This, coupled with the infrequency of the trains leads to overcrowding where often the conductor can’t even get along the train, creating a scary place for children and old people rather than a comfortable one.

“All of which puts commuters and leisure travellers off getting the train and keeps cars on the roads. We as an action group and a business club will continue to push for change.”

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Longer term, he said the flat crossing east of Newark Castle where the line crosses the north/south LNER fast track needed addressing because the Nottingham/Lincoln route played second fiddle to trains on that route.

Chief executive of Midlands Connect, Maria Machancoses, said of the Nottingham/Lincoln line: “This is an important connection between two major urban areas, and our plans for investment represent the first step in encouraging more passengers to use the trains.

“We recognise the need to make train travel more attractive and help people transition to sustainable transport.

“Our purpose is to create a fairer, greener and stronger Midlands. Faster connections between our towns and cities will bring a boost to the area for all the residents, businesses and visitors.“

The plans have been developed with the support of Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Lincolnshire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnerships. Network Rail and local train operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) are also key stakeholders in the process.

Midlands Connect recommends proposed milestones for work to start in April 2026, and complete in Summer 2028.