Editing Midland Main Line (section)

===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>