Oakham to Kettering Line
Encyclopedia
The Oakham to Kettering Railway Line is a railway line in the East Midlands
of England
. For many years it was used for mainly for freight traffic, and as an important diversionary route for passenger trains travelling the Midland Main Line
as well as for the occasional excursion.
Recently, however, the part of the line south of Corby has seen the commencement of regular passenger services following years of discussion. A new Corby railway station
opened on 23 February 2009, initially served by one return train to London St Pancras
per day, operated by East Midlands Trains
. Full service, with 13 daily returns to London, started on 27 April 2009. The service provides one train each hour calling at Corby
, Kettering
, Wellingborough
, Bedford, Luton
and London St Pancras
; with a minimum journey time from Corby to London of 1 hour and 14 minutes. One of the train pairs is extended north of Corby to Oakham
and Melton Mowbray
. A further service was extended to and from Derby (calling at Oakham, Melton Mowbray, East Midlands Parkway) from the May 2010 timetable.
The highlight of the route is the Welland Viaduct, also known as Harringworth Viaduct, where the line crosses the Welland
valley between Rutland
and Northamptonshire
.
Historically the line formed a major part of the Midland Main Line
between London St Pancras, Nottingham
, Leeds
and Scotland
hosting regular named expresses such as The Waverley.
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. For many years it was used for mainly for freight traffic, and as an important diversionary route for passenger trains travelling the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
as well as for the occasional excursion.
Recently, however, the part of the line south of Corby has seen the commencement of regular passenger services following years of discussion. A new Corby railway station
Corby railway station
Corby railway station, owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains , serves the town of Corby in Northamptonshire, England. The current station, opened on 23 February 2009, replaces an earlier one dating from 1879 and first closed in 1966 .Plans for the current station, built on a...
opened on 23 February 2009, initially served by one return train to London St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
per day, operated by East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
. Full service, with 13 daily returns to London, started on 27 April 2009. The service provides one train each hour calling at Corby
Corby railway station
Corby railway station, owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains , serves the town of Corby in Northamptonshire, England. The current station, opened on 23 February 2009, replaces an earlier one dating from 1879 and first closed in 1966 .Plans for the current station, built on a...
, Kettering
Kettering railway station
Kettering railway station is to the south-west of the Kettering town centre in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, north of London St...
, Wellingborough
Wellingborough railway station
Wellingborough railway station is located the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, it is from London St. Pancras...
, Bedford, Luton
Luton railway station
Luton railway station is located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The station is near to the town centre, about three minutes' walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. It is situated on the Midland Main Line and is operated by First Capital Connect.-History:...
and London St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
; with a minimum journey time from Corby to London of 1 hour and 14 minutes. One of the train pairs is extended north of Corby to Oakham
Oakham railway station
Oakham railway station serves the town of Oakham in Rutland, England. The station is situated almost halfway between Leicester – to the west – and Peterborough – eastward on the Syston and Peterborough Railway, the line is now part of the much bigger Birmingham to Peterborough...
and Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray railway station
Melton Mowbray railway station serves the town of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and operated by East Midlands Trains train operating company ....
. A further service was extended to and from Derby (calling at Oakham, Melton Mowbray, East Midlands Parkway) from the May 2010 timetable.
The highlight of the route is the Welland Viaduct, also known as Harringworth Viaduct, where the line crosses the Welland
River Welland
The River Welland is a river in the east of England, some long. It rises in the Hothorpe Hills, at Sibbertoft in Northamptonshire, then flows generally northeast to Market Harborough, Stamford and Spalding, to reach The Wash near Fosdyke. For much of its length it forms the county boundary between...
valley between Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
and Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
Historically the line formed a major part of the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
between London St Pancras, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
hosting regular named expresses such as The Waverley.