Plans to electrify the Midland Mainline are expected to be announced by the Government next week, according to reports.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening is set to outline a £500 million scheme to complete the electrification of the route between Sheffield and London on Monday, the BBC said.
At present the line is only electrified between London's St Pancras station and Bedford.
The move would see the current fleet of inter-city diesel trains replaced with electric ones with overhead wires extended along the rest of the line. It is not yet know if the scheme will include track improvements.
The expected announcement comes after business groups and politicians in South Yorkshire and the East Midlands campaigned for the line to be upgraded.
BBC Radio Derby political reporter Chris Doidge said the Derby-based train-maker Bombardier, which was threatened with closure last year, could benefit from the scheme.
A spokesman for the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum told the BBC: "If the Midland Mainline is upgraded, the supply chain waits ready to meet the needs of the industry.
"We hope it is not just electrification - there are great benefits to be found in upgrading the current infrastructure."