Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has visited Ilkeston in Derbyshire to mark the start of work on a new station serving the town, due to open early next year.

The £9.6m development, part-funded by the government's new station fund, will provide direct, hourly connections to Nottingham, Chesterfield and Sheffield.

Construction is due to start in the summer, with the derelict building on the site being demolished today as part of clearance works.

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Mr McLoughlin said: "The new station at Ilkeston will make a real difference to the local area when it opens, and will help secure economic growth across the region by linking people with jobs, and businesses with people.

"Investing in projects like this is a central part of our long-term economic plan, as part of the record investment in our rail network between 2014 and 2019. I am pleased that work is now underway, and I look forward to it being completed as soon as possible."

The new station will feature two platforms, ticket machines and a car park.

The Transport Secretary was also in Derby visiting engineering firm Garrandale Group on securing contracts for the Crossrail project, worth £15m. Garrandale is to supply Bombardier with equipment for manufacturing the new trains.

(IT/JP)