NOW'S THE TIME TO PRESS FOR MORE PASSENGER TRAINS TO STOP AT BRIGG

An afternoon Northern Rail passenger service calling at Brigg on its way to Cleethorpes

From May 25, First TransPennine Express will be running one extra passenger train from Sheffield to Cleethorpes along the Brigg line, and then back again in the evening. This is in response to the landslip near Hatfield which has closed the Scunthorpe to Doncaster route. Sadly, some might say, neither of the "new" trains will be stopping at Brigg. 
As a matter of urgency, should the powers-that be in our area be asking First TransPennine to amend this so both these trains stop at Brigg station?
Secondly, if the train firm took that onboard and agreed to stop in Brigg - and the additions were publicised in a meaningful way - would Brigg folk take advantage in sufficient numbers to justify the stop in our town?
It's now 20 years since Brigg last had what might be called a meaningful train service and it was reduced to just three passenger trains each way, Saturdays only.
It seems to Brigg Blog that the unfortunate blockage of the Scunthorpe line has afforded us a golden opportunity to press for a better service.
Sadly, there are many people living in the Brigg area who are blissfully unaware that our station still has a passenger service. Some think the station closed long ago. That is a major hurdle that must be overcome, and it won't be easy. But there will never be a better opportunity than now.
From Brigg on a Saturday - travelling on trains provided by Northern Rail - you can take a train to Retford, Gainsborough and Sheffield, and to Grimsby and Cleethorpes in the other direction.
If Brigg had a decent rail service to Retford, townsfolk could save time and money on travelling to London, for example, as the North Notts town is much closer to the capital than Doncaster, which is the current  changing station used by FirstTransPennine Express for its Cleethorpes-Barnetby-Scunthorpe-Sheffield-Manchester service.
As it's on the East Coast Mainline, Retford also offers connections north to York, Newcastle and Scotland.
It should be pointed out that the Brigg line is currently handling 100 extra freight trains that would otherwise has taken the Scunthorpe and Doncaster route. And as some sections of the Brigg line were reduced to single track many years ago, fitting in extra passenger trains is not as simple as it might seem.
However, as Brigg folk living near the line will testify, night-time is when many freight trains operate, when there's no demand for a passenger service.
In the old days when British Rail owned the tracks and operated the trains it would have been much simpler. But now we have different companies owning the infrastructure and operating freight and passenger trains.
If you've read this far, we'll take it you have an interest in this topic. So Brigg Blog is going to ask you to help by pledging your support for the return of a meaningful passenger train service and also to pledge your support for a request to be made to First TransPennine Express to stop its "new" trains in Brigg, from May 25. If we can show there's interest, perhaps this will help the case for a change of heart by FTPE.
Please email scoopfisher@aol.com with your thoughts/messages of support. We will be glad to pass on the information to the powers-that-be.




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