Government commits to Midlands Rail Hub - but Nottingham misses out

INITIAL FUNDING WILL BE FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN BIRMINGHAM

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

THE Government is not promising to bring a major rail scheme creating thousands of jobs to Nottingham as it instead focuses the huge project on the West Midlands.

Leaders insist that design and planning work continues on the East Midlands section of the Midlands Rail Hub, but a recent funding announcement will only see schemes in the West Midlands moving forward at this stage.

Plans would see more than £1 billion worth of improvements being focused on two 'chords,' allowing for up to 300 extra trains a day. The scheme would create an estimated 13,000 construction jobs and serve up to 50 stations and destinations.