Work starts on £10m rail station

An artist's impression of new Corby railway station has been produced

Work on a £10.2m railway station for Corby in Northamptonshire has started this week.

Corby is currently the largest town in Britain without a station and the new facility will offer services to destinations including London.

Network Rail said it had appointed Dean and Dyball to build the new station.

Dyan Crowther, Network Rail route director, said: "This new rail link will give Corby the chance to take the greener option of the rail."

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.

'More passengers'

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

"With fast direct links to London and passengers arriving at St Pancras, the home of Eurostar and gateway to the continent - there has never been a better time to try our services."

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

Corby station closed in the 1960s, and despite a brief reopening in the late 1980s, no passenger trains have served the town for nearly 20 years.