After years of debate over the proposed East Midlands site for the High Speed 2 rail project, Toton is now seen as the most likely choice for the station.
Derby City Council had originally put forward their own plans to have a station within the city itself but the plans were believed to have been rejected by the HS2 committee.
Toton was the site proposed in the initial government report into the East Midlands hub and is now believed to be being backed by the majority of East Midlands councils.
“We are backing what is best for passengers rather than expressing a preference for a particular station.”
Derby City Council statement
While cities like Birmingham and Manchester have moved ahead with planning work for their HS2 stations the East Midlands hub has been marred by disagreements between councils over its location that threatened to curb the entire project.
A review of the project published by the Department of Transport in October last year suggested that ‘alternative solutions’ should be considered, specifically sites west of Toton.
It was revealed that a site near Breaston in Derbyshire was also being considered for the East Midlands station but a report in 2012 rejected the site due to it’s green belt and flood plain being too sensitive.
Critics of the Toton site argued that the tunnel that would have to be built underneath East Midlands Airport would make the project too expensive.
An animation of the route HS2 will take through the East Midlands
A statement from Derby City council said “Derby is proud to be part of a regional consensus of councils and businesses that is saying to government our region backs HS2.”
They added “We all recognise that HS2 is an essential part of the long term economic prosperity of Derby and the East Midlands and we therefore all need to get behind it.”
A final decision on the site of the East Midlands hub is expected later this year.
Toton Station Plans
– Would consist of 4 platforms, 2 of which will be normal rail platforms while the other 2 will be high speed platforms.
– There will also be 2 lines running through the middle of the station for non stopping train services.
– HS2 Ltd’s projections suggest it could create between 1500-1600 jobs and 150-800 houses.
– Plans to integrate Nottingham’s tram system and other public transport networks into the station making it easily accessible for the county.
– Projected journey Times to London (51 minutes), Birmingham (19 minutes) and Newcastle (1 hour 42 minutes)
– Construction predicted to take approximately 9 years.
