Government seems in no hurry to establish direct rail link between London and Grimsby and Cleethorpes

Melanie Onn - local MP is getting tired of waiting

LITTLE progress seems to being made on longstanding calls for a direct rail line from London to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

There has been an underwhelming response from the Government to a call for an update on progress by Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn.

In a written reply to her request for information, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood (Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell Commons) has replied thus: "The Secretary of State knows the introduction of a direct train to London from Cleethorpes and Grimsby has been a longstanding local ambition. 

"We are working with industry to understand the timetabling, financial, operational and infrastructure issues that would need to be resolved before a service to Cleethorpes could be introduced.

"Infrastructure and operational assessments made by London North Eastern Railway  and Network Rail have confirmed that services could call at Cleethorpes and Grimsby without major infrastructure changes. 

"However, for  trains to serve Market Rasen station, significant infrastructure work, estimated to cost £15- to £20- million, would be required. 

"The introduction of this service would be subject to funding and a thorough business case process."

                                             

Simon Lightwood - 'working with rail industry'

The Grimsby News says: How disappointing that the new Government is showing so little political will to get trains running directly from London to Grimsby and Cleethorpes. The cost of an infrastructure upgrade at Market Rasen station has been identified as the obstacle but the price  of such works seems relatively slight in relation to the UK's overall transport budget. If Whitehall is not ready to foot the bill, perhaps there could be a whipround among businesses, local government and other parties. Failing that, an alternative solution would be for trains simply not to stop at Market Rasen. This subject needs addressing with greater urgency. It should be near the top of the agenda when  a Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire is elected in May.