Editing Midland Main Line (section)

==History==
===Midland Counties early developments===
[[File:British main lines railway diagram.png|thumb|left|The Midland Main Line (green) in relation to other main lines]]
[[File:ATP-E IN YARD.jpg|thumb|left|[[British Rail APT-E]] built at Derby rail technical centre and extensively tested on the Midland Main Line its first run being on 25 July 1972 from Derby to Duffield]]
The Midland Main Line was built in stages between the 1830s and the 1870s. The earliest section was opened by the [[Midland Counties Railway]] between [[Nottingham]] and [[Derby]] on 4 June 1839.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Railway between Nottingham and Derby |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/18390607/010/0003 |newspaper=Stamford Mercury |location=British Newspaper Archive |date=7 June 1839 |access-date=5 July 2016 }}</ref> On 5 May 1840 the section of the route from [[Trent Junction]] to [[Leicester]] was opened.<ref>{{cite news |title=Midland Counties Railway |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000172/18400509/012/0003 |newspaper=Leicester Chronicle |location=British Newspaper Archive |date=9 May 1840 |access-date=5 July 2016 }}</ref>

The line at Derby was joined on 1 July 1840 by the [[North Midland Railway]] to [[Leeds Hunslet Lane railway station|Leeds Hunslet Lane]] via [[Chesterfield railway station|Chesterfield]], [[Rotherham Masborough railway station|Rotherham Masborough]],{{#tag:ref|Quickly the [[Sheffield & Rotherham Railway|Sheffield and Rotherham Railway]] ran its branch line to [[Sheffield Wicker railway station|Sheffield Wicker]]|group= n}} [[Swinton railway station (South Yorkshire)|Swinton]], and [[Normanton railway station|Normanton]].

On 10 May 1844 the [[North Midland Railway]], the [[Midland Counties Railway]] and the [[Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway]] merged to form the [[Midland Railway]].

===Midland Main Line southern extensions===

Without its own route to London, the Midland Railway relied upon a junction at {{rws|Rugby}} with the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] line for access to the capital at [[London Euston railway station|London Euston]]. By the 1850s, the junction at Rugby had become severely congested. The Midland Railway employed [[Thomas Brassey]] to construct a new route from Leicester to {{rws|Hitchin}} via [[Kettering]], [[Wellingborough]], and [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] giving access to London via the [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|Great Northern Railway]] from Hitchin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mimas.ac.uk/~zzaascs/mrsoc/chron.html |title=A Midland Railway chronology>Incorporation and expansion |year=1998 |publisher=The Midland Railway Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228041937/http://www.mimas.ac.uk/~zzaascs/mrsoc/chron.html |archive-date=28 December 2008 }}</ref> The [[Crimean War]] resulted in a shortage of labour and finance, and only £900,000 ({{Inflation|UK|900000|1857|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} was available for the construction, approximately £15,000 for each mile ({{Inflation|UK|15000|1857|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}.<ref name="Leleux">{{cite book |last= Leleux |first=Robin|title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Volume 9 |publisher=David & Charles, Newton Abbot |page=92 |isbn=0715371657}}</ref> To reduce construction costs, the railway followed natural contours, resulting in many curves and gradients. Seven bridges and one tunnel were required, with {{Cvt|60|ft}} cuttings at Desborough and Sharnbrook. There are also major summits at Kibworth, Desbrough and at Sharnbrook where a 1 in 119 gradient from the south over {{Convert|3|mi}} takes the line to {{convert|340|ft|4=0}} above sea level. This route opened for coal traffic on 15 April 1857, goods on 4 May, and passengers on 8 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=Opening of the Leicester and Hitchin Line |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001289/18570509/052/0003 |newspaper=Bedfordshire Mercury |location=British Newspaper Archive |date=9 May 1857 |access-date=5 July 2016 }}</ref> The section between Leicester and Bedford is still part of the Midland Main Line.

While this took some of the pressure off the route through Rugby, the GNR insisted that passengers for London alight at Hitchin, buying tickets in the short time available, to catch a GNR train to finish their journey. [[James Allport]] arranged a seven-year deal with the [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|GN]] to run into Kings Cross for a guaranteed £20,000 a year ({{Inflation|UK|20000|1857|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} Through services to London were introduced in February 1858.<ref>Davies, R.; Grant, M.D. (1984). Forgotten Railways: Chilterns and Cotswolds. Newton Abbot, Devon: David St John Thomas. {{ISBN|0-946537-07-0}}, p. 110–111.</ref>

This line met with similar capacity problems at Hitchin as the former route via Rugby, so a new line was constructed from [[Bedford]] via [[Luton]] to {{rws|St Pancras}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mimas.ac.uk/~zzaascs/mrsoc/chron.html |title=A Midland Railway chronology>London extension |year=1998 |publisher=The Midland Railway Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228041937/http://www.mimas.ac.uk/~zzaascs/mrsoc/chron.html |archive-date=28 December 2008 }}</ref> which opened on 1 October 1868.<ref name="Leleux"/> The construction of the London extension cost £9 million (equivalent to £{{Inflation|UK|9|1868|r=0}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation-year|UK}}).<ref name="Barnes">{{cite book |last=Barnes |first=E. G. |date=1969 |title=The Rise of the Midland Railway 1844–1874 |publisher=Augustus M. Kelley, New York |page=308 }}</ref>

As traffic built up, the Midland Railway opened a new deviation just north of [[Market Harborough railway station]] on 26 June 1885 to remove the flat crossing of the [[Rugby and Stamford Railway]].<ref>Radford, B., (1983) ''Midland Line Memories: a Pictorial History of the Midland Railway Main Line Between London (St Pancras) & Derby'' London: Bloomsbury Books</ref>

===Northernmost sections===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2023}}
Plans by the [[Midland Railway]] to build a direct line from [[Derby]] to [[Manchester]] were thwarted in 1863 by the builders of the [[Buxton line]] who sought to monopolise on{{clarify|date=October 2014}} the [[West Coast Main Line]].

In 1870, the Midland Railway opened a new route from Chesterfield to Rotherham which went through Sheffield via the [[Bradway Tunnel]].

The mid-1870s, saw the Midland line extended northwards through the [[Yorkshire Dales]] and [[River Eden, Cumbria|Eden Valley]] on what is now called the [[Settle–Carlisle Railway]].

Before the line closures of the [[Beeching cuts|Beeching era]], the lines to [[Buxton railway station|Buxton]] and via [[Millers Dale railway station|Millers Dale]] during most years presented an alternate (and competing) [[Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway|main line]] from London to Manchester, carrying named expresses such as ''[[The Palatine]]'' and the "[[Blue Pullman]]" diesel powered Manchester – London service (the ''[[Midland Pullman]]''). Express trains to Leeds and Scotland such as the ''[[Thames–Clyde Express]]'' mainly used the Midland's corollary [[Erewash Valley line]], returned to it, and then used the [[Settle–Carlisle line]]. Expresses to [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]], such as ''[[Waverley (passenger train)|The Waverley]]'' travelled through Corby and Nottingham.

===Under British Railways and privatisation===

Most Leicester-Nottingham local passenger trains were taken over by diesel units from 14 April 1958, taking about 51 minutes between the two cities.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= | magazine = [[The Railway Magazine]] | issue=  |  date= June 1958| pages=432}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}
When the [[Great Central Main Line]] closed in 1966, the Midland Main Line became the only direct main-line rail link between London and the East Midlands and parts of [[South Yorkshire]].

The [[Beeching cuts]] and electrification of the [[West Coast Main Line]] brought an end to the marginally longer London–Manchester service [[Hope Valley line|via Sheffield]].

In 1977, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended considering [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrification of more of Britain's rail network]], and by 1979 BR presented a range of options that included electrifying the Midland Main Line from London to Yorkshire by 2000.<ref>{{cite book |title= Railway Electrification |date=Winter 1979 |publisher= [[British Railways Board]] (Central Publicity Unit) |pages=0–2, 8}}</ref> By 1983, the line had been [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] from Moorgate to Bedford, but proposals to continue electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield were not implemented.

[[File:MML43083 at Nottingham 2005-10-14 03.jpg|thumb|right|A Midland Mainline [[InterCity 125|High Speed Train]], introduced in 1983 by [[British Rail]], at {{rws|Nottingham}} in 2005]]

The introduction of the High Speed Train ([[InterCity 125|HST]]) in May 1983, following the Leicester area resignalling, brought about an increase of the ruling line speed on the fast lines from {{convert|90|mph|4=0}} to {{convert|110|mph|4=0}}.

Between 2001 and 2003, the line between Derby and Sheffield was upgraded from {{convert|100|mph|4=0}} to {{convert|110|mph|4=0}} as part of Operation Princess, the Network Rail funded CrossCountry route upgrade.

In January 2009, a new station, [[East Midlands Parkway railway station|East Midlands Parkway]], was opened between Loughborough and Trent Junction, to act as a [[park-and-ride]] station for suburban travellers from [[East Midlands]] cities and to serve nearby [[East Midlands Airport]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/EMTrains/AboutUs/News/_EASTMIDLANDS'GREENESTSTATIONTOOPENON26JANUARY_.htm |title=East Midlands Parkway – Our greenest station to open on 26 January |date=14 January 2009 |publisher= East Midlands Trains}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}<!-- the EMR station information page will not be a substitute --></ref>

Since then, {{convert|125|mph}} running has been introduced on extended stretches. Improved signalling, increased number of tracks, and the revival of proposals to extend electrification from Bedford to Sheffield are underway. Much of this £70&nbsp;million upgrade, including some line-speed increases, came online on 9 December 2013 (see below).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/12/09-midland-main-line-celebrates-at.html|title=Midland Main Line celebrates at 125mph |newspaper=Rail News|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref>

===Network Rail route strategy for freight 2007===
Network Rail published a Route Utilisation Strategy for freight in 2007;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies\Freight&pageid=2895&root= |title=Route Utilisation Strategy > Freight | publisher = Network Rail}}</ref> over the coming years a cross-country freight route will be developed enhancing the [[Birmingham to Peterborough Line]], increasing capacity through Leicester, and remodelling [[Syston railway station|Syston]] and [[South Wigston railway station|Wigston]] junctions.

===Network Rail 2010 route plan===
[[File:New Road Bridge, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.png|alt=Near Felmerham|thumb|Bridges over the Midland Main Line have been replaced to allow greater clearances for electrification and larger rolling stock. Before (top) and after (bottom) the 2014 upgrade.]]

Traffic levels on the Midland Main Line are rising faster than the national average, with continued increases predicted. In 2006, the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] produced a Route Utilisation Strategy for the Midland Main Line to propose ways of meeting this demand;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2003/midlandmainlineeastmidlandsr1350 |title=Midland Main Line / East Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy |publisher=Strategic Rail Authority|access-date=29 August 2008}}</ref> [[Network Rail]] started a new study in February 2008 and this was published in February 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies\East%20Midlands&pageid=4449&root=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies |title=East Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy | date=February 2010 |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=29 August 2008}}</ref><ref name="bbc-to-be-electrified">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18839483|title=Midlands line 'to be electrified'|date=14 July 2012|work=BBC News Online|access-date= 14 July 2012|quote=A £500m scheme … Transport Secretary Justine Greening is set to outline plans to complete the electrification of the route from Sheffield to London on Monday.}}</ref><ref name="ft-odell-parker">{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5ef559b4-ccfc-11e1-92c1-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5ef559b4-ccfc-11e1-92c1-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|date=13 July 2012|title=Osborne backs £10bn rail plan|first1=Mark|last1=Odell|first2=George|last2=Parker|work=Financial Times|access-date=14 July 2012|quote=announcement, expected on Monday, is likely to include a £530m plan to complete electrification of the Midland mainline between Bedford and Sheffield}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies\Network\Working%20Group%204%20–%20Electrification%20Strategy&pageid=4449&root=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies |title=Working Group 4 – Electrification Strategy |publisher =Network Rail |access-date=27 September 2009}}</ref>

After electrification, the North Northamptonshire towns (Wellingborough, Kettering, and Corby) are planned to have an additional 'Outer Suburban service' into London St Pancras, similar to the [[West Midlands Trains]]' Crewe – London Euston services, to cater for the growing commuter market. North Northamptonshire is a major growth area, with over 7,400 new homes planned to be built in Wellingborough<ref>{{cite news|last=Barton|first=Tom|title=Developers taking too long to build homes, MP says|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26618237|access-date=21 March 2014|newspaper=BBC News Online|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> and 5,500 new homes planned for Kettering.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kettering East: Compromise deal agreed over funding|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-21768957|access-date=21 March 2014|newspaper=BBC News Online|date=13 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="rail742">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]] |issue=742 |date=19 February 2014 |last=Broadbent |first= Steve |title= Switching on the Electric Spine |pages= 69–75}}</ref>

Highlights include:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2010/Route%20I%20-%20London%20and%20East%20Midlands.pdf |title=Midland Main Line 2010 route plan |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2010 |website=Network Rail |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929222047/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2010/Route%20I%20-%20London%20and%20East%20Midlands.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Work related to line speed increases, removing foot crossings and replacing with footbridges
*Capacity enhancements for freight
*Re-signalling of the entire route, expected to be complete by 2016 when all signalling will be controlled by the East Midlands signalling centre in Derby<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3654&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=6 |title=Secretary of State opens Network Rail control centre |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=29 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926044136/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3654&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=6 |archive-date=26 September 2008 }}</ref>
*Rebuilding [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] and [[Leicester railway station|Leicester]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7280724.stm |title=Plans for £150m station facelift |work=BBC News Online | location= London |date=6 March 2008 }}</ref>
*Accessibility enhancements at {{stnlnk|Elstree & Borehamwood}}, {{stnlnk|Harpenden}}, {{stnlnk|Loughborough}}, {{stnlnk|Long Eaton}}, {{stnlnk|Luton}}, and {{stnlnk|Wellingborough}} by 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-for-all-stations |title=Access for all – stations |author=[[Department for Transport]] |date=26 July 2011 |publisher=GOV.UK |access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=August 2016}}
*Upgraded [[UK railway signalling|approach signalling]] (flashing yellow aspects) added at key junctions – Radlett, Harpenden, and Leagrave allowing trains to traverse them at higher speeds{{Update inline|date=August 2016}}
*Lengthening of platforms at Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Loughborough, Long Eaton, and Beeston stations as well as work related to the Thameslink Programme (see below)
*Realignment of the track and construction of new platforms to increase the permissible speed through [[Market Harborough railway station|Market Harborough station]] from 60&nbsp;mph to 85&nbsp;mph saving 30–60 seconds
*Electrification (see below)
*Re-doubling the Kettering to Oakham Line between Kettering North Junction and Corby as well as re-signalling to Syston Junction via Oakham, allowing a half hourly London to Corby passenger service (from an infrastructure perspective) from December 2017 and creating additional paths for rail freight.<ref name="rail742"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-26058418 | title= Second Corby to Kettering railway track to be restored |work=BBC News Online |location=London |date=6 February 2014}}</ref>

====Thameslink Programme====
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2023}}[[File:West Hampstead Thameslink Station building.jpg|thumb|right|240px|New station building at West Hampstead Thameslink]]
The [[Thameslink Programme]] has lengthened the platforms at most stations south of Bedford to 12-car capability. St Pancras, Cricklewood, Hendon, and Luton Airport Parkway were already long enough, but bridges at Kentish Town mean it cannot expand beyond the current 8-car platform length. West Hampstead Thameslink has a new footbridge and a new station building. In September 2014 the current Thameslink Great Northern franchise was awarded and trains on this route are currently operated by [[Thameslink and Great Northern|Thameslink]]. In 2018 the Thameslink network expanded when some [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] services merged into it.

====Station improvements====
In 2013/14 {{rws|Nottingham}} station was refurbished and the platforms restructured.

As part of Wellingborough's Stanton Cross development, {{rws|Wellingborough}} station is to be expanded.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-17755261 "Wellingborough railway station expansion plan unveiled"]. ''BBC News''. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.</ref>

{{rws|Ilkeston}} between {{rws|Nottingham}} and {{rws|Langley Mill}} was opened on 2 April 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/ilkeston-train-station-finally-opens-but-the-first-train-is-late|title=Wait finally over for Ilkeston train station as hundreds turn up to opening|date=2 April 2017|access-date=7 May 2017|work=Nottingham Post}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Two new stations were planned: 
*{{rws|Brent Cross West}} between Cricklewood and Hendon as part of the [[Brent Cross Cricklewood]] development in North London.  It opened in December 2023. <ref>[http://www.brentcrosscricklewood.com/transport.htm Brent Cross Cricklewood: Transport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929042330/http://www.brentcrosscricklewood.com/transport.htm |date=29 September 2013 }} Retrieved 23 August 2013</ref>
*{{rws|Wixams}} between {{rws|Flitwick}} and {{rws|Bedford}} as part of the new town just outside Bedford. Construction has been pushed back repeatedly: first expected to be built by 2015,<ref>[http://www.wixams.co.uk/wixams-transport-railway-station The Wixams: Transportation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017030759/http://www.wixams.co.uk/wixams-transport-railway-station |date=17 October 2015 }} Retrieved 23 August 2013</ref> then for 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.networkrail.co.uk/Route-Specifications-2015-London-North-East-and-East-Midlands.pdf?cd=4|title = Route Specifications 2015 – London North Eastern and East Midlands|date = April 2015|access-date = 10 August 2016|website = Network Rail}}</ref> the government confirmed in April 2025 that main construction would begin in concert with the nearby [[Universal Studios Great Britain]] Theme Park in 2026,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-08 |title=Universal theme park for Bedfordshire confirmed by Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> although groundwork had already begun by late 2024. 

Some new stations have been proposed:
*[[Clay Cross]] between Chesterfield and Ambergate/Alferton.{{ATOCConnectingCommunitiesReportS10|page=9}} 
*[[Irchester]] ({{stnlnk|Rushden Parkway}}) between Wellingborough and Bedford.{{sfn|ATOC|2009|p=19}}
*[[Ampthill]] between Bedford and Flitwick.<ref>[http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sbates/brta/html/ampthill.html Bedfordshire Ampthill station] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513022307/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sbates/brta/html/ampthill.html |date=13 May 2008 }}, Railway & Transport Association. Retrieved 4 January 2010.</ref>

===Extension of electrification===
{{main|Proposed railway electrification in Great Britain}}
{{main|Midland Main Line railway upgrade}}
[[File:2019 at Wellingborough station - Up Slow line being relaid.JPG|thumb|Electrification work and track being relaid at {{Stnlnk|Wellingborough}} in 2019]] 
Unlike the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines, the Midland Main Line has not been electrified along its full length. The line was electrified as far as Bedford in the early 1980s, but services relied on diesel traction beyond that.

In 2011 work commenced to extend the electrification, including to both Corby and Nottingham. Increasing costs initially saw this terminated at Kettering in 2017, but in 2021 work began on extending electrification to Market Harborough and onwards to Wigston with plans to extend further to Sheffield.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/electrification-to-reach-market-harborough/48150.article|title=Electrification to reach Market Harborough}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Spades in ground as government delivers on rail investment promise for North and Midlands|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/spades-in-ground-as-government-delivers-on-rail-investment-promise-for-north-and-midlands|access-date=2021-12-21|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-21|title=Main works on next stage of Midland Main Line electrification due to begin|url=https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/main-works-on-next-stage-of-midland-main-line-electrification-due-to-begin/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=RailBusinessDaily|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rail industry welcomes progress on Midland Mainline electrification|url=https://www.riagb.org.uk/RIA/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Progress_on_MML_electrification.aspx|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.riagb.org.uk}}</ref>

In May 2022, a briefing to contractors was released ahead of an invitation to tender for Midland Mainline Electrification project work to extend electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield. This scheme is expected to cost £1.3&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/contractors-alerted-to-next-phase-of-1-3bn-midland-main-line-electrification-24-05-2022/ |title=Contractors alerted to next phase of £1.3bn Midland Main Line electrification |date=24 May 2022 }}</ref>

===2021 Integrated Rail Plan===
{{main|Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands}}
In November 2021 the Government announced its [[Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands]] which made a number of proposals for the Midland Main Line. These included a commitment to complete the stalled electrification work, an upgrade to digital signalling, and a connection to [[High Speed 2]]. The latter would see a junction built south of East Midlands Parkway station rather than the previous plan of an [[East Midlands Hub]] further north on the [[Toton]] sidings. This will allow HS2 services to connect to both Derby and Nottingham city centres directly using the MML for access, which was a criticism of the previous HS2 eastern leg proposal.<ref name=IRP/>