Another major hurdle has been cleared in the effort to give the town of Corby the station it requires.

Network Rail has appointed Dean & Dyball to construct the new station and they have now begun work.

Corby has been, until now, the largest town in Britain without a railway station. Corby will be benefiting from a brand new £10.22m station which will link the town with the railway network and London.

A range of partners are behind the scheme, including East Midlands Development Agency (emda), Network Rail, East Midlands, Trains, English Partnerships and North Northants Development Company.

Dyan Crowther, Network Rail Route Director, said: "More people are using the railways than ever before. This new rail link will give the people of Corby the chance to get out of their cars and take the greener option of the rail.


"We look forward to working with Dean and Dyball on this exciting project for Corby."

Dean & Dyball began setting up on site last week and commenced work yesterday. Track work took place in June this year to replace track, sleepers and ballast to prepare for the new station. The construction work will run until late November 2008.

David Horne, Commercial Director for East Midlands Trains, said: "It's great news that the station build is underway. We’re looking forward to bringing a long awaited rail service to Corby by the end of the year.

"East Midland's Trains will be doing all it can to attract more passengers to make the switch to rail. Trains will be doing all it can to attract more passengers to make the switch to rail."

East Midlands Trains will manage the station and their first train will leave Corby on 14 December 2008.

Simon Evans, Chief Executive of North Northants Development Company, also said: "This is a further important step forward for the residents and businesses of Corby. All the partners involved in this project have shown great commitment to delivering the new station on time and we are now just months away from what will be a hard won but historic day for the town."

(JM)