A rail service that would benefit Brigg

The excellent article in RAIL 885 - ‘Improving rail links in Lincolnshire’ - shows how the Brigg line was left to die before the hard work of two rail groups and the old Northern Rail in recent years.

Sadly, the situation is quite critical now. The Department for Transport has confirmed that the present train operating company does not wish to run the services - this has been confirmed due to lack of promotion, an unfair fare structure, and re-timing of the trains that now miss vital connections.

The DfT also confirms that the idea of a Nottingham to Worksop service extended onto the Brigg Line has no viable case.

The most cost-effective way of providing a weekday service on the Brigg Line would be to use a shuttle service between Cleethorpes and Retford low-level. This would use one unit (which could be a Vivarail ex-D78 train), and staffing would be provided by Cleethorpes-based TransPennine Express crew (in the TPE franchise they are supposed to look at diversionary routes, and the Brigg Line is classed as this).

The present stopping service to Gainsborough Central from Sheffield needs to be withdrawn between Retford low-level and Gainsborough Central, as the passenger numbers are very sparse and it’s better to have a service that connects communities over a larger area.

This would give ‘bums on seats’ and cash in the till, with the emphasis of the town of Brigg being the heart of the Brigg Line.