Thousands of passengers will benefit from more convenient rail services thanks to a new 'greener' railway station designed to get drivers out of their cars and into trains, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has announced.

East Midlands Parkway station will be served by more than 100 trains a day travelling across the region with up to three or four services to London an hour.

Officially opening the station yesterday, Mr Hoon said: "This magnificent new station will improve the lives of commuters travelling into cities like Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, provide easy access to East Midlands airport from the national rail network, and create a brand new regional link with the capital.


"We want to encourage more people to use public transport to ease congestion on our roads and one of the best ways of doing this is to offer more choice which is exactly what this new station does.

"It is also good news for the local economy and business because this new station will enhance transport links and cut congestion."

The new £25.5 million station, which has been built by Network Rail, will serve as a park-and-ride facility for commuters relieving road congestion by reducing the number of car journeys into Nottingham city centre.

Meanwhile travellers will benefit from a dedicated shuttle bus from East Midlands Parkway station to Nottingham East Midlands Airport with services running every 30 minutes between 7am and 11.30pm.

The new station comprises of four platforms, step free access, a station building with ticket office and other facilities. It will be staffed and managed by East Midlands Trains and has 850 parking spaces for cars.

The station has been built with locally sourced, recycled materials and has an energy efficient ground heating system, making it one of the greenest railway stations in the UK.

(JM/BMCC)