The £280 million upgrade of the Great Northern Great Eastern line has been officially opened by rail minister Claire Perry.

The work is designed to cut congestion and journey times, boost freight and increase capacity, both on the 86-mile route between Doncaster, Lincoln and Peterborough and the neighbouring East Coast Main Line.

Ms Perry said: “By removing essential but slow-moving freight from the busy East Coast Main Line, this massive upgrade is already making a real difference to both passengers and businesses. It also creates the potential for extra passenger services for local communities in the future.”
The project includes building 20 new bridges and improving safety at 32 level crossings. It will take two freight trains per hour off the main line, freeing up space and time for more long-distance, high-speed passenger services. This includes the InterCity Express services, which are set to start running between London and Scotland in 2018.