Some of us thought it might never happen, but improvements are currently being made to Brigg railway station. A gang of workers is busy repairing the platform, with fencing and the footbridge also expected to get the same treatment.
It appears they are going to cordon off much of the platform length, on both sides. No great problem, as we only see one-car units these days, Brigg station only getting three trains each way, just on Saturdays, to either Cleethorpes (via Barnetby and Grimsby) or Sheffield (via Gainsborough and Retford).
It's also understood that, at some point in the future, work will be carried out to improve the dreadful approaches to Brigg station - potted, rutted and totally unsatisfactory.
What Brigg station needs now is a meaningful train service, operating more than one day a week.
This is a chicken and egg situation..do we need more trains to attract punters, or more passenger demand to attract more trains?
ReplyDeleteNo-one seems to know and no-one has really asked the question.
A few things are certain: fuel costs will increase as reserves diminish; within a generation communal travel (trains & buses) will become comparatively more important.
If the planned industrial development evolves about the oil terminal at Killingholme; if the Humber Bridge tolls are abolished, then there is going to be a massive impact on the existing transpost infrastructure - not just for goods.
Should such developmental investment occur (which I believe is more likely than not as, despite the economic crisis, this area has unrealised potential to improve the UK's economy as a whole), Brigg will become significant in the whole scheme of things; a decent local rail service will be essential; a direct rail link (from Barnetby) to London will need to be re-established.
My prediction for the future perceives a development of a New Town to the east of Melton Ross within the next 25 years.
Just watch this space.
They really could just timetable the trains better, to be honest. I understand that trains don't cost equally the same amount of money to run regardless of when they run, but rearranging them would provide at least a usable service.
ReplyDeleteFor example, it may be more useful to run a summer service for half the year, but with six trains each way. That way it provides some semblance of usability and takes into account the greater desirability of traveling to somewhere like Cleethorpes (or even just going shopping in Sheffield or Grimsby) in the warmer months.
There's little to lose, but at least it would give Brigg the chance to demonstrate it can generate some passengers. That could then be used to increase services, even though it would take years to develop the kind of base needed.
Sova
ReplyDeleteWe need folks like you on Brigg's Community-Led Plan project - contact the town clerk for details.