Erewash MP Maggie Throup is delighted to announce that trains will begin stopping at Ilkeston’s new railway station on Sunday 2nd April 2017, with an official opening expected to follow later in the summer.
The details were today confirmed to Ms Throup in an email from Network Rail and will come as welcome news to the people of Ilkeston who have waited over 50 years to be reconnected to the railway.
The new £10 million station project was made possible because of a £6.6 million Government infrastructure investment package administered through the New Stations Fund.
Announcing the date, Maggie said:
“I am delighted that at long last we finally have a firm date for passenger trains to begin operating to and from Ilkeston’s new station.
“The station will not only transform the way local people travel, but will undoubtedly give a significant boost to the local economy and attract new business to the area.
“Sunday 2nd April 2017 will be a historic day in the life of our town as we finally cast off the dubious title ‘the largest town in Britain without a station’, and I for one cannot wait to be on that first passenger train as it pulls into Ilkeston Junction after an interval of over 50 years.
“This investment by the Conservative Government demonstrates the commitment we have made to improving Britain’s aging railway infrastructure. However I now want to see even more investment to make sure we connect the station up with the rest of the town to maximise the benefits.”
