Grimsby MP upbeat on prospects of direct rail link from Cleethorpes to London - perhaps later this year

 

All aboard for London? Grimsby MP Lia Nici has struck an optimistic note

A DIRECT rail link between Cleethorpes and London could be on the cards by as soon as this winter.

Although not making this a pledge, Grimsby MP Lia Nici struck an optimistic note when she was a guest panellist on a Sky TV political show on Thursday of last week.

Ms Nici and her Cleethorpes constituency counterpart, Martin Vickers, have long been canvassing ministers on the issue.

The latter is well-positioned to comment because he is co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rail.

Meanwhile, the duo have both spoken out against Labour’s plan, if elected, to renationalise the railways.

In the same TV broadcast, Ms Nici spoke glumly of her experiences of travelling by railway (British Rail) in the 1970s and 1980s when it was under state control.

She said Labour’s policy would cede greater control to the trades unions - with the prospect of more strikes - and necessitate huge marketing costs in rebranding and re-painting the trains.

"Re-nationalisation would be a complete waste of money," she insisted.

In a comment piece in The Daily Telegraph, co-written with Labour peer Lord Berkeley, the Cleethorpes MP acknowledged that "change is radically needed and the strikes need resolving".

The pair continue: "We lived through British Rail.

"A monolithic body controlling everything may be attractive to some, but the evidence suggests it would fail.

"Nationalising our railways and pitting them in a battle for scarce public resources against schools, hospitals and defence is folly."

By contrast, Labour believes re-nationalisation would improve service and bring cost-saving efficiencies.