LANDMARK MEETING ABOUT IMPROVING BRIGG STATION AND PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE

Running a six days a week passenger service through Brigg station - rather than the current Saturdays-only 
arrangement on the Sheffield to Cleethorpes route - has been categorised as a long-term aim. But at least it's on a  priority list - at long last!
This follows a meeting involving the Friends of the Brigg and Lincoln Lines which was held at Brigg Station and the Angel Suite on Thursday, January 23.
It was attended by representatives of Brigg Town Council, Brigg Matters newsletter, The Friends of Brigg and Lincoln Railway, the Gainsborough Rail and Bus Users group, Humberside Police, North Lincolnshire Council, Northern Rail, Railfuture and members of the public.
After what's described as an inspection of the station site,  those present retired to the Angel Suite - courtesy of  Brigg Town Council where a meeting was chaired by John O’ Grady, of Northern Rail.
Northern Rail’s current franchise expires on March 2014 and discussions are being held with the Department for Transport to extend it to February 2016. 
Short-term aims set out include:

• A new sign pointing to the station ("Saturdays only") be placed at Monument roundabout. This is being looked at by North Lincolnshire Council.
• A poster board - placed close to the Brigg station at the top of Station Road - is being suggested so Northern Rail can post timetable information.

A proposal for footpath access to the station to be "metalled and lit"  will be considered at the meeting of the Brigg 20/20 group.

Other items considered included:

• Planters to be placed on platforms for use by Brigg in Bloom.
• Promotion of  "Bucket and Spade" trips in the summer from Brigg station to Cleethorpes.
• Events in Brigg to be notified to Northern Rail who Tweet the information each Friday - the idea being to alerted train travellers to what's going on.

MEDIUM TERM AIMS INCLUDE

• Paint the station (except the footbridge, which is due for replacement)
• First train to Sheffield to run earlier in the morning.
• Develop inward traffic along the line with Brigg and Wolds tourism campaign

Brigg Blog's sincere thanks are extended to Paul Johnson, of the Friends of the Line, for his assistance with this post.