most new railways, particularly those of the midland, were built for transporting coal, and so could show a quick return on investment. a line from leicester to peterborough had been floated as an independent scheme which might not have progressed, even though there had been a famine of coal in the area. at stamford for instance it had risen to forty shillings a ton. however, because of the railway politics of the time, it was supported by george hudson who was involved with the midland counties railway which, was in the process of merging into the new midland railway.