from bbcnew:
Full steam ahead for airport link
A long-awaited railway link to Nottingham East Midlands Airport could be up and running by December 2008, according to organisers.
Network Rail has now taken over the project from Midland Mainline and is carrying out surveying work on the planned site at Ratcliffe-on Soar.
The parkway station near junction 24 of the M1 would provide rail links to the airport from nearby cities and London.
It is hoped that construction work would start in Spring 2007.
As far as we're concerned the project is full steam ahead
Ben Herbert, Network Rail
The planned parkway station would eventually provide 1,000 parking spaces and a shuttle service to the airport.
Ben Herbert, from Network Rail, said the company was now getting on with designing the station and taking the proposals through the relevant planning processes.
He said the station would greatly improve transport links in and around the East Midlands.
"The reason the site has been chosen is because it is the nearest point on the existing railway to the airport itself, it's handy for the A453 trunk road and also junction 24 of the M1.
"As far as we're concerned the project is full steam ahead, it's all going well and we'll be able to get some more information on what the station will actually look like after Christmas," he said.
He added that the operator for train services to the station would be decided by November 2007.
The East Midlands parkway station has been on the drawing board for years, but has been dogged by planning rows.
The land was bought by compulsory purchase order from energy company Powergen, and plans for the station have been opposed by local residents.