North West Leicestershire District Council has received a positive response from the Government in a letter confirming investment for the Ivanhoe Line - and committing to looking at the future of services running to Leicester from Ashby and Coalville.

This follows a motion debated at Full Council on November 14.

The council wrote to the Department for Transport and Network Rail encouraging them to explore opportunities to complete the second phase of the line, linking Ashby and Coalville to Leicester, and to assess the feasibility of adding a station in Moira.

Currently, Moira has no station as part of the plans to link Derby to Coalville.

In response, the Government has outlined its commitment to delivering the Ivanhoe Line, confirming the project is focussed on reinstating services between Coalville and Derby, via Ashby.

But adding that considerations about extending the service from Coalville to Leicester are also being progressed.

Coalville councillor Michael Wyatt at the town centre level crossing. Photo: Supplied

The council's letter to Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper MP, read:

"Following the Government's recent announcement on HS2 and as a consequence its commitment to further investment in infrastructure projects in the Midlands and North of England as part of its Levelling Up agenda, North West Leicestershire District Council has passed the following motion at a meeting of its full Council on 14 November:

"This Council welcomes the progress being made to finally see the Ivanhoe line reaching the next stage, but strongly encourages the Department for Transport and Network Rail to continue exploring the opportunities to complete the second phase of the Ivanhoe Line from Coalville to Leicester and to also assess the feasibility of adding a station in Moira following the cancellation of the eastern leg of HS2".

In response, Huw Merriman MP, Minister of State for Transport, wrote: "I am replying as the Minister responsible for this issue. I am grateful for your and North West Leicestershire District Council's continued support for the project. 

"The motion you passed at full Council rightly highlights the importance of the project and the benefits it will deliver to the communities it will serve. 

"As you know, on 4 October the Prime Minister set out his vision to deliver the forms of transport that people use, and benefit from, the most.

"This included commitments to deliver the Ivanhoe line, subject to usual business case decisions.

"The Network North initiative will radically improve travel between and within our cities and towns, and around our local areas – benefitting more people in more places, more quickly.

"We are in the early stages of planning next steps, including delivery timelines, for various schemes and are working closely with Network Rail and other delivery partners to develop and deliver on government priorities. 

"The Ivanhoe line project is currently focusing on the reinstatement of services between Derby and Coalville, which will reconnect all the main areas of population in the corridor and is likely to be deliverable the fastest.

"My Department is currently considering how an extension of this service from Coalville to Leicester is best progressed.



Freight traffic on the Ivanhoe Line route. Photo: CRIL

"This will also examine whether additional stations will be delivered on this route section. 

"I understand that officials are already in close contact with the Council through ongoing project steering group meetings, which have proven to be useful in the development of the scheme."

North West Leicestershire District Council says it fully supports the work to reopen the line and is committed to working with the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL), Network Rail and the government to see passenger rail services returned to the district.

Councillor Michael Wyatt, NWLDC Deputy Leader, said; "I'm delighted the minister has replied so quickly to our concerns about the Coalville to Leicester link.

"Not delivering the whole line would be a missed opportunity especially when businesses are looking for greater commercial opportunities and we know the public want to travel between Coalville and Leicester."