Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated from the public purse for planned upgrades to the Midland Main Line; and what the planned upgrades are which will be undertaken to improve capacity and speed on that line.

We are investing over £1 billion in the biggest upgrade to the Midland Main Line since it was completed in 1870. It will deliver improved long distance passenger services between Sheffield, Nottingham and London, as well as a new dedicated service between Corby, Kettering and London. There will be more seats and faster intercity journeys during the peak.

Upgrades to improve capacity and line speed include:

• Remodelling of Derby station to improve journey times for freight and passenger services
• Platform lengthening at Market Harborough to improve capacity
• Leicester South Junction remodelled to improve journey times
• Line speed improvements through Market Harborough to improve journey times
• Line speed improvements north of Derby to improve journey times
• Corby track re-doubling and four-tracking south of Kettering to increase capacity and create a sixth path into London St Pancras
• These and other upgrades enable a new, dedicated express service between Kettering, Corby and London St Pancras with modern trains and more seats from 2020, as well as a fleet of brand new bi-mode trains for intercity services from 2022.