Railwatch 076 - July 1998

Lincolnshire

By Brian Hastings and Paul Jowett

Lincoln signals A Railtrack Midlands zone speaker failed to attend a meeting in March to which we had invited him so he could explain the plans for modernising signals in the Lincoln area. Up to 12 manual signalboxes will go and another four at Sleaford. We are hoping to arrange a new meeting so Railtrack can give us details of this welcome development which opens up the possibility of more line capacity and Sunday services. We would also like to see level crossing and signalling improvements between Sleaford and Spalding.

Skegness line boost The Skegness-Crewe cross-country route is being extended to Manchester Airport, boosting the number of towns with rail access to Skegness.

Through tickets Rail users now have the chance to travel to the Lincolnshire coast, including Funcoast World, Ungoldmells and Mablethorpe, by train and bus. More publicity for the facility is needed, however.

New corridor created RDS is hoping to persuade train operators to put more effort into marketing the new journey opportunities from Lincoln to Meadowhall shopping centre, Barnsley and Huddersfield. Daily through trains from Lincoln became available from 24 May when Regional Railways North East combined the Lincoln-Sheffield service with Sheffield-Huddersfield.

Bus substitution Staff short-ages and holidays were responsible for the bus replacement of trains between Lincoln and Grimsby during the Christmas period in both 1996 and 1997, the branch was told by Les Bird, customer services manager for Central Trains. He hoped to avoid a repetition.

Good wishes Lincolnshire RDS sent good wishes to Grace Taylor who is retiring after many years as secretary of the Eastern Rail Users Consultative Committee. She served the area well.

Radio silence A monthly radio programme called Railway Miscellany, presented by RDS member Alan Stennett has been dropped by Radio Lincolnshire. Alan covered both the heritage and current railway scene. The programme was much appreciated but had been cut back from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, making it unviable.

Internet information The Lincolnshire web site which has rail promotion information is at http://www.linscc.u-net.com/bus.htm (or you could ring 01522 553135 for further information).

Integrated planning The branch is hoping to persuade planners to incorporate a rail siding into a large industrial park being sponsored by the local authority and built next to Sleaford North Junction.

Loads of rubbish Kirton Lindsey lime sidings may be given a clay infill to act as a seal for rail loads of domestic refuse from London. The traffic should revive the semi-mothballed Gainsborough Trent Junction-Barnetby route.

Lower fares Central Trains are revamping their fare structure to attract more leisure travel by removing most of the restrictions on day returns. RDS is appealing for fare levels to be lowered on the Lincoln-Gainsborough route.

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