Railwatch 081 - October 1999

Lincolnshire

By Brian Hastings

Green partnership RDS member Stuart Parker of Lincoln is taking a key partnership role in promoting the rail line to Skegness. He is selecting the route for a nine-mile rail ramble - organised by the Ramblers Association in conjunction with the Countrygoer Campaign - from Wainfleet station to Skegness on 25 September. The aim is to promote public transport as a green way to access the countryside. More information: 01522 534655.

Fare victory A three-year campaign by RDS for lower rail fares from Cleethorpes to Meadowhall has won over train operator Northern Spirit. It is introducing a new series of leisure fares to compete with bus operators. Now we hope Northern Spirit can be persuaded to cut fares from Lincoln to Sheffield and Meadowhall. Central Trains has also responded to RDS appeals and has introduced new under-a-fiver cheap day return tickets between Skegness or Wainfleet and Boston, Sleaford and Grantham, and Gainsborough and Lincoln.

Overcrowding pledge Central Trains has promised RDS and the local rail user group will make a determined effort to reduce overcrowding on the Skegness line which has forced many rail ticket holders to travel by bus.

Village focus RDS is targeting village magazines as a good way to promote local rail services. The work of RDS is to be featured in the September issue of the Heckingham Magazine. We have already had items published in the Barnetby Bugle and the Saxilby Foss Focus. If you know of other Lincolnshire magazines, please contact Brian Hastings on 01724 710528.

Millennium boost RDS members are to be asked to recruit one new member before the next annual general meeting in 2000. A certain way to double membership.

Freight fight RDS and the Friends of the Barton Lines are backing angry townspeople who want contaminated land waste to be taken from the site of a former chemical works in Barton by rail to Roxby Gullet which is rail-served. The current plan is to use lorries! North Lincolnshire Council say it is too expensve to use rail. We are hoping to develop an acceptable compromise on an EWS idea to avoid the cost of a siding by using the running line for loading. Unfortunately this could mean one passenger train would have to be cancelled in favour of a bus.

Positive action Barnetby Rail Day was organised by RDS to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the railway's arrival in town. EWS operations manager Mike Hogg explained how his company is trying to double the amount of rail freight.

Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.