‘No Imminent Plans’ To Look Into Re-Opening Railway Line

Rail bosses say there are ‘no imminent plans’ to further investigate re-opening the railway between Market Harborough and Northampton.

An on-going campaign is calling for the link between the two towns to be restored, to open up a new north/south national rail corridor, linking the Midland Mainline with the West Coast main line.

The British Regional Transport Association is leading the campaign and say any new track could still retain the Brampton Valley Way footpath, which runs along where the tracks used to be.

The Brampton Valley Way leaving Market Harborough

An initial feasibility study into the re-opening was carried out by Network Rail five years ago.

A spokesperson told HFM: “Initial feasibility studies were carried out a few years ago but nothing has happened since and there are no plans imminent to take this forward.

“This is not an active development project for Network Rail at the moment.”

The potential re-opening of the lines has also been included in West Northamptonshire Council’s proposed Local Plan.

Steve Jones, chairman of Harborough Rail Users Group, told HFM he is not surprised by Network Rail’s stance of the matter: