Councils release blueprint for Toton HS2 access

Rail

A three-phase plan to connect the HS2 station at Toton, between Derby and Nottingham, into local and regional transport networks has been published by councils and business leaders. 

The access strategy for Toton station – now dubbed the HS2 East Midlands Hub – envisages investments being delivered over 30 years, with the first tranche of improvements delivered within ten years and up and running before the HS2 station opens.

The station forms part of HS2 phase 2b, which is being reviewed by the Government as part of a wider rail plan for the Midlands and the North (LTT 21 Feb & 06 Mar). 

The station access proposals are part of a wider strategy to improve access to a cluster of sites that will be managed by a proposed development corporation. These are: the hub station; housing at Toton and Chetwynd; an innovation campus; the soon-to-close Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site (which will become a zero carbon technology and energy hub); the new East Midlands Gateway Logistics Park; and East Midlands Airport. 

Measures proposed for delivery within the next ten years are: 

• extending the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) light rail network from the Toton Lane park-and-ride site to Long Eaton via two new stops, at the Innovation Campus and the HS2 station 
• new bus services between the HS2 East Midlands Hub and Amber Valley, Bridgford and Clifton
• bus rapid transit between the station and Derby city centre via Pride Park and Derby railway station
• extending the East Midlands Hub A52 access route to the A6005 in Long Eaton
• capacity enhancements to the M1 at junction 25
• four rail services an hour from the HS2 hub station to Derby, Nottingham and Leicester and beyond. This requires the construction of the Trowell Curve from the Midland Main Line
• a new rail service between Mansfield, Derby and Leicester with stops at Ilkeston, Langley Mill, Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton Parkway and the HS2 hub

Phase two of the programme, to be delivered within 20 years, comprises: 

• extending NET or bus rapid transit from the HS2 hub station to Derby
• a new rail station at East Midlands Airport, connected to the Midland Main Line via a spur south of Kegworth village

Phase three, to be delivered within 30 years, comprises:

• a new rail line between East Midlands Airport and Derby via the South Derby growth zone and Rolls Royce sites
• a tram-train connecting NET into a proposed new development site to the west of East Midlands Airport. This would also serve stops within the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site and could serve Kegworth village and the East Midlands Gateway Logistics Park.

The proposals are backed by the D2N2 local enterprise partnership; Derby City Council; Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands Airport; East Midlands Councils; Highways England; Leicestershire County Council; Midlands Connect; the Midlands Engine; Nottingham City Council; and Nottinghamshire County Council.