Former railway line between Harborough and Northampton could be reopened under latest plans

The Reform-led West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has published its latest draft Local Plan which highlights the railway line as a route that could be explored.

The draft plan also refers to possible improvements to the disused Brackmills line and a Northampton Northern Orbital Route, a long-discussed proposal for a new road aimed at easing traffic in the north of Northampton and surrounding villages.

Campaigners for reopening the Northampton to Market Harborough railway line say it could improve travel to Leicester, Nottingham and the North while reducing traffic and pollution.

The English Regional Transport Association (ERTA) said: “Restoring the N2MH rail link would provide transformative social, economic and environmental benefits for Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and further afield.”

They added: “There is growing parliamentary support for re-opening the line which, although closed for over 40 years, is still largely in existence.”

Campaigners say travel between Northampton and Leicester currently takes more than 90 minutes by public transport, despite the cities being just 31 miles apart. They say reopening the line could cut journey times to under 18 minutes between Northampton and Market Harborough and to around 34 minutes between Northampton and Leicester.

The council’s draft plan does not include a timetable for any of the proposals, but identifies the former railway lines and the northern orbital route as possible transport corridors.

The proposals are part of the Reform-led council’s emerging Local Plan and are due to be discussed by the Planning Policy Committee at One Angel Square on Thursday, January 8, before going to full council on January 19.