Making life easier for Scunthorpe to Doncaster train users is minister's pledge
Transport Minister Simon Burns has promised to see if there's a way to "make life easier" for passengers as the Scunthorpe to Doncaster rail line is repaired.
During a Parliamentary debate on the disruption, caused by a landslide last month, Barton MP Martin Vickers suggested "deregulating" some ticket restrictions.
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Buses waiting outside Scunthorpe railway station to ferry passengers to Doncaster while trains are unable to run
This would allow North Lincolnshire-based passengers to get from Barnetby London via Newark without paying a higher fare for leaving before 7pm.
Mr Vickers told MPs that East Coast, which runs the line, was not prepared to do that.
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"I subsequently wrote to East Coast, but, sadly, it has not as yet bothered to reply," he said.
"It does not seem unreasonable to request that, for the 18.03 from King's Cross to Newark, which has a good connection through to Grimsby, it could provide a derestriction to allow passengers to Barnetby, Habrough and Grimsby to use that service."
At the moment, a replacement bus service is taking passengers between Scunthorpe and Doncaster, from which East Coast rail services are running normally.
In response, Mr Burns said ticketing was "a matter for the train operators", but he promised to "ask them if they will look at the issue to see if there is a way that might help to make life easier" for Mr Vickers' constituents.
Mr Vickers also voiced concern that hundreds of passengers might be "permanently lost" to First TransPennine.
He acknowledged the "difficulties" faced by First TransPennine and said: "The priority is to get the line clear and get at least a limited service up and running.
"At a conservative estimate, that will take another 12 to 16 weeks."
He also used his debate to repeat his call for a direct rail service between northern Lincolnshire and London.
He said: "At the moment, there is an East Midlands train that goes from Lincoln to King's Cross in the morning and King's Cross to Lincoln in the evening.
"It would be a golden opportunity to test the market for a future service if that route could be extended to Cleethorpes for a short time."
3 Comments
by tony8h
Friday, March 22 2013, 11:26AM
“From what I have seen in the past very limited access to Thorne South station from the main road in the town center.”
by MrDrizzle
Friday, March 22 2013, 10:28AM
“Why not run trains to Thorne South from Cleethorpes and then from Hatfield into Doncaster? I know there is probably an issue with fueling passenger trains or driver availability for trains operating between Cleethorpes and Thorne but these could be relatively easily overcome.
There is no point in using the Brigg line as you would need to go to Barnetby first and then it is a fairly long journey via Gainsborough to Doncaster in which time the bus probably works out to be quicker.”
by MrDrizzle
Friday, March 22 2013, 10:27AM
“Why not run trains to Thorne South from Cleethorpes and then from Hatfield into Doncaster? I know there is probably an issue with fueling passenger trains or driver availability for trains operating between Cleethorpes and Thorne but these could be relatively easily overcome.
There is no point in using the Brigg line as you would need to go to Barnetby first and then it is a fairly long journey via Gainsborough to Doncaster in which time the bus probably works out to be quicker.”