Call for £18m rail line upgrade between two cities

The proposals look to boost journey times and increase the number of services

A proposed £18m upgrade to a "critical" rail line will cut journey times, reduce road traffic and boost the local economy, campaigners have said.

Currently, the journey between Nottingham, Newark and Lincoln - known as the Castle Line - takes around an hour.

Midlands Connect said only 10% of trips on this route were by train, but increasing the speed should make it more attractive.

The group, which represents local councils and transport providers, first put forward the idea in 2023 but has now submitted a new report on the project to the Department for Transport (DfT).

'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."