The line is important for cross-country passenger services, East of Peterborough, the route gives access from the Midlands to various locations in the east of England, such as Ely, Cambridge and Stansted Airport via the West Anglia lines.

It is also strategically important for freight, as it allows container trains from the Port of Felixstowe to travel to the Midlands and beyond.

Most Birmingham-Leicester passenger trains were taken over by diesel units from 14 April 1958, taking about 79 minutes between the two cities.

[4][full citation needed] In 1977 the Parliamentary Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended considering electrification of more of Britain's rail network.

In addition, EMR also operate an evening Spalding to Nottingham service which is worked by a Class 153 SuperSprinter.

The Felixstowe–Nuneaton railway upgrade is a large project with a number of elements that will allow more railfreight traffic between the Haven ports and the Midlands.

It is also in response to the predicted increase in the number of high-cube (Hi-cube) shipping containers arriving at the ports that cannot currently be accommodated on the route.

Without loading gauge enhancement these larger containers would have had to be transported by road or via a longer rail route via London that was already operating at capacity.