The second phase of the controversial £33 billion HS2 rail network will pass through Leicestershire, it has been confirmed.
Today the Government has confirmed that a section of the route linking Birmingham to Leeds will cut through the county along the A42 corridor.
It will enter the county near Appleby Magna, passing by Measham,Packington, carrying onto by Ashby then crossing the A42.
It will run under a tunnel under East Midlands Airport. There is no planned station in the county, the nearest being at Toton, between Nottingham and Derby.
Last week, the Mercury revealed the broad route as Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton expressed concern about the route as he was briefed on it by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
He said it would lead to homes and businesses being demolished to make way for the track which would cut north west Leicestershire in half. He feared the route would wreck plans for a freight depot near Castle Donington that could create 6,000 jobs.
He said: "As far as I can see we will get all of the pain and none of the gain."
North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen said the project was not value for money and warned it would blight the area.
The 225mph first trains are expected to run along the route in 2032.The Government's proposed HS2 route through Leicestershire See a larger (PDF) version of the HS2 route in north west Leicestershire HERE.The Government's proposed HS2 route through the East Midlands
