Is North Lincs rail network adequate?
IS North Lincolnshire served with an adequate rail network?
That is the question the Scunthorpe Telegraph has been asking readers to vote on in our latest online poll at www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk.
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IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE: Scunthorpe Station
It comes as work began on a £19- million scheme to improve the railway line between Scunthorpe and Doncaster.
The upgrades, being carried out by Network Rail, are expected to cause major disruption to both passenger and freight trains throughout the summer. A new crossover at Scunthorpe station is part of the scheme, while the majority of the cash will be spent on a repair of the track at Medge Hall.
As reported in the Scunthorpe Telegraph, Northern Rail and TransPennine Rail have both organised replacement bus services to take passengers between Scunthorpe and Doncaster, in a bid to minimise disruption.
Readers of the Telegraph's website were unanimous in their view that the area does not have an adequate rail network.
At the time of going to press, 100 per cent of respondents had said this was the case.
Apart from the temporary closure of the line between Scunthorpe and Doncaster, other complaints included a shortage of trains, a lack of local links and high travelling costs.
14 Comments
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by julie, scunthorpe
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 7:29PM
“pete,you do indeed need to purchase a rail ticket to use the bus. i never saw the works advertised as i dont get the telegraph and rarely use the station. i am annoyed that i was able to buy tickets for a train journey that doesnt exist without being warned”
by spook, scunthorpe
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 3:39PM
“Julie, i do agree fares are not always cheap, but if you book in advance on the internet you can make some very big savings, and yes i know not everyone has the internet, and these fares are no good if you only decide to travel on the day. And as for trains not running next month, the rail compnaies have advertised quite cleary for months now that no trains will be running between Scunthorpe and Doncaster until early September. Not ideal, but in theory we will have better tracks leading to better services once the work is completed, and they work has to be carried out at some point. And you will fins that if you use the TPE the trains don't creep to Doncaster via the villages, it is a direct service, though admittely slow due to the crappy tracks other side of Crowle.”
by peter, Milan City centre
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 3:37PM
“The reference to the train speeds available in Italy was to illustrate the comparitve low investment on rail infrastructure made in the UK compared to the continent. In addition the UK has the most expensive service. Most services, even to small towns, in western europe are electrified and run faster services then in the UK, where a recent survey found that some services were slower then in Victorian times. The trans pennine route connects to inter city serices and Manchester Airport. It should be modern, fast and reliable, but it is none of these. I guess some people accept such low standards that they yearn for the good old golden years of steam, even maybe a coach and four. But I find that Spooky.”
by Julie, Scunthorpe
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 3:23PM
“I have just checked on the internet and lo and behold I have bought tickets for scunny to donny in order to get to the Wembley Cup next month and yet again no trains running! last october we went to doncaster for the races - no trains running! thats five pccasion now that me and my partner have been messed trying to get to and from scunny! wonderful!”
by Julie, Scunthorpe
Wednesday, June 24 2009, 3:16PM
“Spook, one set of tickets is got to cheaper than 2 sets of tickets if only by a few pounds plus the train could head straight down south or north without creeping to doncaster via the villages.
At the end of the day my partner and I have done trips to london twice in the couple of years and on neither occasion have we been able to successfully use trains between scunthorpe and doncaster.
The train fares are shocking now - last time I looked it was £17 return to go to Doncaster on a saturday!”