The East Midlands has played host to the transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who was in the region to see the impact of major transport investments at East Midlands Airport and Kenilworth Station.

East Midlands Airport is currently the second-largest in the country in terms of freight. Over 310,000 tonnes of goods passed through it last year, representing a 3.6 per cent increase on 2013 figures. It is also the largest figure in the airport’s 49 years of operations.

DHL are currently investing £90 million in their facility at East Midlands Airport, which Mr McLoughlin was pleased to see.

He then visited the site of a new station at Kenilworth, which has been without a rail link since 1965. Once completed, there will be regular direct services between Leamington Spa and Coventry.

Mr McLoughlin said: “Investing in transport infrastructure is a vital part of this government’s long term economic plan.

"The Midlands are crucial to this country’s prosperity and I welcome the record breaking figures for East Midlands Airport - this is a real achievement. The government’s investment in our railways means that there will be a new railway station at Kenilworth which will give a huge boost to economic growth across the region.”