A rail passengers' group in Harborough has started its fightback against a Department of Transport proposal to cut train services between Harborough and London (link below.)
http://www.harboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=760&ArticleID=1640774

Page 25 of the link below (East Midlands Franchise Consultation Document) explains the proposals.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_611833.pdf

"Off-peak there will be a reduction in the number of trains that call at Market Harborough
station, from two an hour today to one an hour from December 2008. In the peak additional
calls will be added to the Sheffield – London service, this will provide Market Harborough
with both connections to the North and very fast journeys to London (circa.60 minutes
against circa.70 – 80 minutes today). There will also be calls in the counter peak to enable
commuter journeys to Leicester and Derby."

Pages 25 & 26 also mention East Midlands Parkway , due to open by December 2008.

"This will give the new East Midlands Parkway station at least two services an hour
to London, two services an hour to Nottingham, at least one to Derby and at least three
to Leicester."

"The new station will abstract much of its demand from Loughborough, Long Eaton and Beeston.
To take account of this the number of calls off-peak at Loughborough will be reduced from five
every two hours to two every hour. In the peak some additional calls at Loughborough will be
added into the Sheffield to London service and/or the Nottingham to London service. The hourly
London service at Beeston and Long Eaton will be retained in December 2008. Following the
opening of East Midlands Parkway should demand fall significantly at either Beeston or Long
Eaton station the level of service will be reviewed."

Page 24 contains further information on East Midlands Parkway.

"Bidders will be expected to work with Network Rail to ensure the commissioning of this new
station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, near junction 24 of the M1. The station will be mainly a rail-head
for journeys from the East Midlands to London, but will also serve East Midlands Airport and
some local flows within the East Midlands. The station is planned to be in service in time for
the December 2008 timetable change although the franchise agreement will allow sufficient
flexibility should this date change. The proposed service for the new station is covered in the
Service Pattern section of this document."

Here is a link that mentions other Parkway - type stations.
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=264.msg697#msg697

Here is a link that is relevant to the new Midlands franchises.
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/melkshamrailway/140_is_part_of_a_planned_war.html