Saturday-only passenger trains continue to serve Brigg railway station during the Coronavirus emergency, but the apparent 'failure' of a diesel unit meant that some passengers from our town who decided to visit Gainsborough at the weekend experienced something of a marathon day trip to the Lincolnshire town just two stops down the line.
In Gainsborough they had a lengthy wait until a taxi, provided as a substitute by the train operator, picked them up for the return journey.
A couple thought they would make a trip to Gainsborough on Saturday; they can both drive but took the train "for the experience." It seemed quite easy, they thought. Twenty minutes or so each way at a cost of £20.
The outward trip went smoothly - the train arriving in Brigg on time and offering plenty of space.
But the return trip was different. As they waited and waited on the platform at Gainsborough for the diesel unit's arrival, a very helpful railwaymen approached to say he thought their train had been cancelled. He returned to confirm this and said a taxi would come and pick them up.
The couple then had to stand in the cold for well over an hour - in the car park, as the platform had been "locked" by then.
Eventually, they received a call from a taxi company in Scunthorpe but had a further 15-minute wait for it to arrive.
"Cold and damp, we were just glad to get a lift back to Brigg station where I had parked our car," the male passenger told Brigg Blog. "I hope that this is a rarity and not normal."
Commenting on current plans to introduce more trains on more days of the week to serve Brigg, he added: "We would love a better train service, especially more direct to Lincoln, Barton (access to Hull) as I think it would really open up the area and drive the local economy."
There are two suggested schemes - one from Barton to Gainsborough, supported by North Lincolnshire Council and local MPs; the other for a new Worksop-Brigg-Cleethorpes 'shuttle' - put forward by the Independent Brigg Line Rail Group (IBLRG).
The couple who contacted Brigg Blog support "any campaign to improve the service" and hope to see things come to fruition in due course. As, indeed, do many other people in Brigg!
The IBLRG suggested to Brigg Blog that the last train running from Sheffield towards Brigg on Saturday didn't do so because of a unit failure. With no "spare sets" available at Sheffield, a replacement bus then ran from Cleethorpes to Sheffield, with taxi provision in the other direction.
Brigg Blog suggests it would help if loudspeakers could be installed at Brigg station (and others) to keep waiting travellers updated. Barnetby station already has such a facility and also illuminated digital displays listing train times and detailing any cancellations or delays.
Even in the Covid-19 emergency, Brigg is timetabled to receive three trains to Gainsborough, Retford and Sheffield every Saturday, and three to Barnetby, Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Most have been running as planned in recent months, but some have had to be cancelled due to a number of factors, including staff shortages during this difficult period.
Unit failures are rare but can happen to any train operator in the UK at any time. More modern and comfortable stock is now being used on the Brigg line, where the elderly and rather basic Pacer units have been phased out.
The IBLRG says its current advice to those intending to travel along the Brigg line on the Saturdays-only service is: "Always check before you travel in these uncertain times."
Call National Rail on 03457 484050; website www.nationalrail.co.uk
