LOCAL Businesses are being urged to have their say regarding a proposed direct rail link between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham.
Midlands Connect has launched a business survey on the proposals which runs until Friday, November 11.
The survey follows last year’s Building Back Greener report, which outlined a case for reconnecting the three major cities by rail.
It highlighted that passengers travelling from Coventry to either Leicester or Nottingham had to change trains at Nuneaton, resulting in longer journey times and increased chances of delays.
The new rail link would aim to deliver a more frequent service while boosting regional growth.
The responses gathered in the survey will be used to support the case for further investment on the route.
Questions in the survey include determining the percentage of employees that have to commute longer than 30 minutes to work, as well as how often people use the train for that purpose.
It also asks people which proposed improvements would make people most likely to use the train, with options including faster services, direct services, more modern trains, less crowded trains or better-timed services.
Only three per cent of journeys from Coventry to Leicester are made by rail, compared to 30 per cent from Coventry to Birmingham.
Through building a direct line, it is hoped the number of road trips between the major cities will decrease while also assisting the government’s current net-zero targets.
The rail line is estimated to be worth £179million and aims to have social, environmental and economic benefits.
Midlands Connect develops and recommends transport projects to provide the biggest economic and social benefits for the region.
CEO Maria Machancoses called on businesses and employers in Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, and Nuneaton to ‘make their voices heard’ in the consultation survey.
“Increased connectivity between these cities could bring more jobs and opportunities to the region.
“The information local companies will give us could really help build our case for this new rail line.”
Visit https://midlandsconnect.consultationonline.co.uk/coventry-leicester-nottingham/ to take part in the survey.
