Keen-eyed Brigg residents may have spotted or heard passenger trains running through the town yesterday (Saturday, July 2).
The Saturdays-only Northern service between Cleethorpes and Sheffield via Brigg was suspended in January because of Covid-related staffing issues and no passenger trains are timetabled on our local route between May and December.
However, 'route refreshing' diesel units with staff aboard but not fare-paying passengers ran along the Brigg Line yesterday, further raising hopes that it may prove possible to re-start the service earlier than initially indicated.
Staff in charge of trains need to cover particular routes regularly to be permitted to carry out their duties.
This is why 'route refreshing' trains have been operating.
We also gather that some track replacement work is planned for the Brigg Line this weekend.
In normal circumstances, there are three passenger trains on Saturdays heading towards Grimsby and Cleethorpes via Barnetby and three bound for Gainsborough, Retford and Sheffield.
Local passengers and particularly families with children are hoping it will be possible to re-start trains to Cleethorpes before the end of the summer season so they can make day trips to the resort, leaving our station early morning and getting back to Brigg shortly before 8pm.
Local man David Barrett's pictures seen here show unit 150274 on 'route refreshing' duties yesterday, passing Kirton Lime Sidings at lunch-time and then Brigg late in the afternoon. Note one of the portals of lengthy Kirton Tunnel in the distance in the view below.
