Call for £18m rail line upgrade between Nottingham and Lincoln
'Economic growth'
The proposed upgrades aim to increase train speeds along the route from a typical 50mph (80km/h) to about 75mph (120km/h).The long-term aim is to double the frequency of services to two trains an hour, though no aim has been announced for how long journeys would take between the two cities following the upgrades.Midlands Connect said this could drive economic development, promote more sustainable travel and foster social mobility along the route, helping to address areas of deprivation. Its report estimates the project could deliver a £3.60 return in regional benefits for every £1 invested.The proposed work would see the relocation of one signal unit, short sections of minor track re-alignment and carrying out structural repairs to existing culverts.James Naish, MP for Rushcliffe and chair of the East Midlands all-party political group, said: "The Castle Line is a critical local line, connecting many suburban and rural communities to jobs, services, and opportunities in both major cities."Nottingham and Lincoln are fantastic cities, homes to a diverse range of businesses and excellent universities. "By better connecting them to the local communities in between, we can help to improve social mobility and drive forwards economic growth while promoting more sustainable transport choices."I fully back this proposal."Midlands Connect is asking the DfT to grant approval for the scheme to proceed to Decision to Develop, which is the second of five stages in the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) framework.If it progresses on schedule, work could start in April 2026 with completion in summer 2028.A DfT spokesperson said: "We are absolutely committed to improving connectivity across the East Midlands, which is why we are investing over £2bn to improve transport infrastructure in the region, as part of our Plan for Change."We will look carefully at the proposals for the Castle Line and we fully anticipate it will be part of a pipeline of projects to be considered in future funding decisions."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Judges who bring their personal politics to court should be removed, insists shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick
Judges who bring their personal politics to court should be removed, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has insisted. Tighter pre-appointment checks for those with partisan views are needed, the MP for Newark, Nottinghamshire, said. He also called for a system for their removal if any political meddling is discovered. Mr Jenrick said: 'If judges want to enter the political sphere themselves, then they should stop being judges and go into politics. 'We have to have a situation where judges who act politically and bring their own personal politics into their job as a judge are held to account and frankly, can be removed.' The shadow Lord Chancellor said he has previously exposed judges for tweeting what he called 'highly political, partisan messages'. Meanwhile, he added, others have acted as trustees of 'highly partisan' charities. 'I think that is bringing the historic independence of our judiciary into serious disrepute and we've got to change that,' he concluded. Removing senior judges is no easy task, requiring a vote in both the Commons and the Lords. In lower courts, meanwhile, there needs to be an investigation into any reported wrongdoing, ending in a recommendation of removal. Mr Jenrick noted UK judges remain highly respectable in some areas of the legal system, like the commercial courts. But he felt they had not remained independent in others, particularly noting immigration tribunals. He emphasised a judge's role is simply to uphold law made by Parliament. The shadow minister said it was pointless to leave behind 'activist judges' in the European courts after Brexit if the UK simply has the same problems with this at home. Judges are currently selected by the independent Judicial Appointments Commission, introduced in 2005 by then prime minister Tony Blair. But Mr Jenrick - shadow Lord Chancellor since November last year - believes this is not working and is exploring returning this responsibility to the Lord Chancellor. This approach, in place before Mr Blair's 2005 Constitutional Reform Act, has been previously criticised by many as unfair and politicised. Elsewhere in his interview with The Telegraph, Mr Jenrick said he wanted 'every single illegal migrant in this country' deported. The former immigration minister - from October 2022 to December 2023 - said this included those arriving on small boats and lorries, as well as people who claim asylum after landing at airports. He resigned from his position in then-PM Rishi Sunak's Cabinet after urging for a reinforced Rwanda deportation policy. The shadow minister still believes similar schemes are a key part of a successful approach to dealing with migration. He also suggested if the Tories were to enter government at the next election in 2029, he would round up and deport anyone who came to the UK without permission under Labour who has not been granted asylum. Mr Jenrick praised US president Donald Trump, who he backed during last year's election, for his approach to immigration on the country's southern border. He said it showed a crackdown on illegal arrivals can have a swift impact. The Conservative insisted it was not his rhetoric that is causing a culture war - but the UK's inadequate approach to migration, saying the country wants decisive action. Earlier this week, the BBC apologised to Mr Jenrick after a refugee charity boss suggested on air the shadow justice secretary is xenophobic. On Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday, Krish Kandiah, a director of Sanctuary Foundation, claimed the shadow minister had increased 'fear of the stranger' in the UK. Mr Jenrick accused the broadcaster of smearing 'millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears'. It comes after the shadow minister's trip to Calais earlier this month to witness small boats setting off for England, footage of which he posted on social media. The Conservative MP lost the party leadership race last summer to Kemi Badenoch, after making it to the final two candidates. Central to his campaign was the notion of removing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as the way to deal with small boat arrivals. This would make it harder to anyone who arrives in Britain illegally to appeal deportation for family reasons, he argued. Ms Badenoch dismissed this approach during the race as not well thought out - but now looks set to take it at the party conference in the autumn.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Plymouth set for 44 new long-term cycle storage lockers
New secure cycle lockers are set to be installed across a Devon City Council said the "significant expansion" would include 44 long-term lockers, bringing the total number of spaces available across the city to city council said the lockers, funded by the Department for Transport's active travel fund, would be both short and long John Stephens, cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: "This new cycle infrastructure is a real boost for sustainable transport in Plymouth and I'm delighted to see it installed." 'No parking loss' He added: "Getting people out of their cars and onto their bikes won't happen overnight but if we can continue to provide the infrastructure that breaks down another barrier to making that choice then together we will be able to get to a better place."The city council said the long-term lets would be at Cremyll Street, Vauxhall Street, Barbican Approach, the Theatre Royal car park, Grand Parade car park, Napier Terrace car park, St John's Road car park, Boringdon Terrace car park and Regent Street car park. There would be no loss of car parking as a result, it said short-term cycle storage lockers, each capable of storing two bikes, were also set for expansion thanks to five new bike hubs – an app-bookable locker system with bike parking available at an hourly rate. It said there would be three new hourly rental lockers at the Plymouth Life Centre and two on Vauxhall Street to bring the total city wide to lockers had been manufactured in the city by local company BikeAway, it added, and had been provided at no cost to the said the long-term lockers could be hired on an annual first of the storage lockers will be installed before the end of August.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
MPs call for free bus travel for under-22s in England
Free bus travel is offered to under-22s in Scotland. People aged 16-21 in Wales are entitled to a one-third discount on fares, and from next month will be able to travel for £1 per journey. Parts of England offer discounted or free bus travel for young people, such as London for 16 and 17-year-olds. People are entitled to free bus travel in England when they reach the state pension age, which is currently 66 but will rise from next year. Bus fares in England for all passengers are capped at £3 until March 2027. In a report on buses, the select committee said: 'England's patchwork of local youth concessions contrasts with national schemes in Scotland and Wales. 'A coherent national approach to ensure fair access across England is essential if the Government is serious about driving economic growth, which depends on removing barriers to education, training, and employment for the next generation.' The report described public transport as a 'major barrier to employment for young people', especially in places with limited services. It added: 'In some areas, transport is restricting opportunity rather than enabling it.' The committee urged the Government to reform the way local bus services are funded, with longer-term settlements. It also called for a national ambition for a minimum level on public transport connectivity. Department for Transport (DfT) figures show the number of bus journeys taken in England outside London fell by 22% from 4.6 billion in 2009 to 3.6 billion in 2024. Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, who chairs the committee, said: 'Those most affected by unreliable or even non-existent buses include the young, who need them to get to school, college, university and their first jobs. 'Denying young people these experiences denies them their life chances. 'We call for a universal, free bus pass for all under-22s to equalise opportunity. 'While the bus fare caps have been beneficial, the Government has yet to spell out a coherent strategy of what they aim to achieve, and whether more targeted options could produce better outcomes. 'While the Government's Bus Services Bill contains positive ideas, the Transport Committee's report says ministers should go further to get bums back on seats.' The Bill, which is going through Parliament, will lead to an overhaul of buses, such as by giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own services. It will also reduce some of the red tape involved in bus franchising, including reducing the minimum period between local areas taking control of services and being allowed to start operations. A DfT spokesperson said: 'After decades of decline, we're providing a record £1 billion in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country. 'Our landmark Bus Services Bill will protect routes and prevent services from being scrapped, bringing buses back into local control, and will put passengers at the heart of services. 'We have also stepped in to prevent a fare hike for passengers by extending the £3 fare cap until March 2027.'
