Saturday, February 24, 2007

More people in Lincs let train take strain...

The number of passengers on trains in Lincolnshire has jumped by seven per cent in the past year according to figures released by Central Trains.

Imagine the jump in numbers if the direct Lincoln-London service were restored...

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is very good news.

I travelled into Lincoln by train this week and my train was packed in THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

Mind you, if they will insist on running our local services with a single, long carriage which can only take about 100 people...

Anonymous said...

It is very good news.

My understanding is that a direct service from London to Cleethorpes via Spalding, Sleaford and Lincoln will commence very soon but we must start lobbying NOW for a fast link via Newark when one considers that the franchise to operate on the East Coast Mainline is being awarded shortly.

I personally think that First are the favourites to get it because they already operate services on parts of the line but the National Express Group, Arriva, and Virgin/Stagecoach are also applying.

Would be very dangerous if First got the Midlands services franchise in Lincolnshire too though because they already operate lots of bus services in Lincolnshire and such a move could lead to a monopoly re fares.

fairdealphil said...

brynley:

did you go from Spalding??

fairdealphil said...

anonymous:

thanks for the info...

Anonymous said...

Phil,

It was Sleaford-Lincoln return last week.

As you know, Phil, the Sleaford-Spalding bit packs up early.

Why does it pack up early?

Because half a generation ago, these were fairly quiet towns.

fairdealphil said...

brynley:

totally agree.

the way roads traffic is increasing - particularly on the A15 Bourne-Peterborough corridor -I wonder how long it will be before the idea of a park-n-railride off the A15 at Deeping is taken seriously...?

Anonymous said...

Well, it needs a promoter. How about you?

The idea of an A15 parkway station (between Werrington and Peakirk, access by car off A15) would make sense once wider regional services start using the Spalding line.

At present we have Councillor Mark Horn's well-merited suggestion of an expensive Essendine Parkway, but there are rail capacity issues on the East Coast Main Line. Not an issue for an A15 parkway!!

There is also the perfectly reasonable local demand for a smaller station at Deeping St. Nicholas on the same line.

Something will have to give. The time to start pushing outline proposals is now.

Anonymous said...

So Phil, do you think this is

a) a good idea

b) a bad idea

c) not sure/ need to do more work

d) none of the above for the following reason ...........................

Anonymous said...

I'll put you down as c), then.

Phil of no fixed opinion.