The Ivanhoe Line may offer fresh hope for a Derbyshire town that appears on an infamous list of large English settlements without a train station or close to one.
The Ivanhoe Line
The former Ivanhoe Line from Burton, Staffordshire, to Leicester, which had involved a railway station in Castle Gresley, closed in the 1960s and long-held plans to reinstate it were spiked in 2024.
Now a new Ivanhoe Line parliamentary group has been formed, backed by the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, involving campaigners, the MPs along the route and the East Midlands Mayor.
Swadlincote is a member of an infamous shortlist of large English towns which do not have a train station and are not within 5km of one.
The proposed reintroduction of a railway station in Castle Gresley, close to Swadlincote, and a further new stop in south Derbyshire at Drakelow, are viewed as potentially “transformational” for the area.
Unlocking the potential of South Derbyshire
A business case for the reinstatement of the Ivanhoe Line had priced the scheme at between £123-£186 million, with stations in Drakelow, Castle Gresley, Moira, Ashby, Coalville, Bagworth & Ellistown, Meynell’s Gorse and Leicester South – near the King Power Station.
On the new group, South Derbyshire MP Samantha Niblett said:
Swadlincote lost its original Midland Railway station in 1947, leaving the town disconnected from the national rail network.
I want South Derbyshire to continue to grow, creating high-quality jobs and attracting investment.
Reinstating passenger rail services, alongside new stations at Castle Gresley and Drakelow, would help unlock that potential, creating a two-way gateway that connects Swadlincote, surrounding communities and beyond.
Solving issues around connectivity
Meanwhile, Claire Ward, East Midlands Mayor, said:
I want public transport to be an easy and affordable choice for everyone. I want communities connected to one another and not just to large cities.
My role as Mayor enables me to convene the people who understand these issues around connectivity.
Together, we must look at projects that better connect our communities, improve access to jobs and education, and support economic growth across the East Midlands.
Bringing rail connectivity back to this corridor has the potential to strengthen regional links and help create a more connected East Midlands.
The Ivanhoe Line Steering Group was launched
Amanda Hack, North West Leicestershire MP, said that the Government supported the importance of bringing together key organisations to progress the scheme and that the partnership would help ensure future discussions with officials are backed by strong local support and robust evidence.
She wrote:
Reinstating passenger rail services would be a game-changer for North West Leicestershire, the National Forest and the wider region.
Better rail connections would give residents easier access to jobs, education and opportunities, while boosting local businesses, tourism and investment in our communities.
Crucially, it would reconnect two of the largest towns in the country without a rail service today, Coalville and Swadlincote.
I’m delighted that the Rail Minister has welcomed the creation of our Steering Group.
By uniting local authorities, regional partners and industry, we are building the strongest possible case for reopening this vital railway and ensuring our communities’ voices are heard at every level of government.
By Local Democracy Reporter Eddie Bisknell.
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