Corby - Transport

Transport

Roads

The town is located along the A43, A427, A6003 and is 6 miles (9.7 km) from the A14 at Kettering. Corby lies within two hours’ drive of four international airports: Birmingham, Luton, Stansted and East Midlands. Being a new town, Corby's road network is different to that of older towns. There are several dual carriageways, most of the principal roads have wide reservations and high speed limits and pedestrian crossings over them are often underpasses. However, Corby is only connected by dual carriageway to one neighbouring town, Kettering (the A6003). All other roads into the town are single carriageways.

Buses

Corby is served by six bus routes under the Corby Star brand name. Service X4 connects the town with Peterborough, Oundle, Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton and Milton Keynes and is also operated by Stagecoach. National Express coaches also provide long-distance connections to the north and Scotland. Plans to build a new bus station in Corby are being considered by the council following the closure of the old bus station in August 2002.

Rail

Corby used to be described as the largest town in the UK not to have a railway station, or access within 5 miles (8.0 km) of one - many other towns and localities claim this dubious honour (e.g. Gosport, Dudley, Newcastle under Lyme) but all of these places have locally available railway stations in adjacent suburban areas. Previously the nearest station was 7 miles (11 km) south in Kettering since the closure of the original station under the Beeching Axe in April 1966. The Kettering-Corby-Melton Mowbray section remained open for freight and through passenger trains, passing through the 1,760-metre (1,920 yd) Corby Tunnel and crossing the River Welland on the colossal 82-arch Welland Viaduct.

The newly built station opened on 23 February 2009. East Midlands Trains runs hourly services to London St Pancras via Kettering and Wellingborough. There is also a limited peak time service running north to Oakham and Melton Mowbray. It was later agreed that the 'Corby Rail Bus', the X1 service between Corby and Kettering operated by Stagecoach, would be kept running after the opening of the new station – though passenger numbers will be monitored and if they fall off significantly then the service may be reduced or terminated. Train services had been due to start on 14 December 2008, but EMT admitted that it failed to secure the four new trains it needed. An article in Corby's local newspaper stated that the service would be starting on 23 February 2009.