A wish-list has been drawn up to upgrade rail services in Leicestershire, including 10 new stations and an underground terminal at East Midlands Airport
Campaign group Sustainable Transport Midlands (STM) has drawn up the plans as part of a wider scheme designed to give the East Midlands a rail network that puts it on a par with the south.
The plans, known as East Midlands Commuter Programme, are split into four stages, recommending new stations and new lines as well as bus station improvements and improving existing tram services.
According to LeicestershireLive, Leicester would see new stations created at Thurmaston, between Syston and the city, Aylestone Park, between Knighton and Wigston, and three new stops between Wigston and Market Harborough, at Welford Road, Kibworth and Great Bowden.
There is also a suggestion for an underground rail terminal at Castle Donington’s East Midlands Airport, which STM hopes can create shorter travel routes between the region and Nottingham.
Currently the airport is service by the under-used East Midlands Parkway station, although there are Government plans to make that the end hub of a shorterned HS2 eastern leg.
Thomas Haines, the East Midlands Commuter Programme’s project executive, said he was determined to see the new stations build.
He said: “The scheme has taken months to develop.
“The East Midlands Commuter Programme is a concept I have had for many years, constantly coming up with new, fantastical versions of it.
“I cannot wait to help make this a reality, however long it takes.
"The East Midlands has long-suffered from under-investment when it comes to public transport, and this plan attempts to go at the very least a small way to rectifying that.”
The group also hopes to reopen passenger operations on part of the Leicester-to-Burton freight railway line.
Known as the Ivanhoe Line, the STM would aim to reopen stations at Coalville, Ashby, Sinope, the Stephenson Industrial Estate and Moira, as well as neighbouring stops in Derbyshire.
It would be the first passenger travel in the area since the Ivanhoe Line was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching Cuts.
This stage of the scheme would capitalise on the groundwork done by the Campaign to Reopen the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL).
Its long-running campaign to get the line back up and running received backing from multiple politicians and was heard by the Department for Transport (DfT).
However, the scheme missed out on vital funds from the government last year.
SMT's ambitions do not stop at the Ivanhoe Line, with the group ultimately hoping to introduce two new lines altogether.
The first would be a part-underground route between the Midland Mainline and Castle Donington.
This would work through Kegworth and onto East Midlands Airport. It has not yet revealed any details of the second.
Mr Haines said the group expected stumbling blocks along the way to getting its dreams realised.
He said: “Of course there are several obstacles, such as the numerous other proposals by other rail personnel with more years of experience under their belts, and of course it would be easier and cheaper to deliver this if HS2 took its originally intended route via Toton, but I am prepared to work hard with these other rail personnel.”
STM chief executive Harry Burr said he believed the project would be achieved.
He said: "I’m really pleased to be introducing this new campaign. We have hardly touched the northern parts of the region during our campaign operations, but that all changes with a major new programme we’re so happy to be leading."
Further details, including the cost of the group’s proposals, will be released in due course, said a spokesperson, with the plans set to be submitted to the DfT at a later date.
