A partnership of councils, transport organisations and East Midlands Airport has come together to launch a £2.7 billion vision to provide fast and frequent road, bus, tram and rail connections to the future HS2 East Midlands Hub station at Toton.

The vision would mean that major towns and villages across the East Midlands regions would have direct access to the station including Nottingham, Derby, Newark and Leicester.

The plan, if successful, would work in three phases, with the first one to be completed by 2030 before the first trains start to run on the HS2 line to the East Midlands. Phase Two could then be completed within 20 years, and Phase Three within 25 years.

The partnership, Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine is asking for an £4·5m from government to allow the first phase to be brought forward to the next stage of development, including the production of detailed project designs and costings.

“The improvements span traditional rail, light railway, bus, rapid transit, conventional bus and route enhancements, and are all designed to deliver benefits to local people sooner, said Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine.

“The UK’s five busiest freight paths run through the Midlands and this plan creates more capacity on our rail network. A successful future economy relies on moving more freight by rail. Frankly the East Midlands needs and deserves a reliable, regular and environmentally friendly transport network. Investing in infrastructure such as this is essential if we are to meet our climate targets and reduce carbon emissions.”

The business case for the proposals was funded by local partners and has submitted to the Department for Transport. .