BRIGG STATION ON TRACK FOR 1,000 PASSENGERS INCLUDING SOME FROM LIVERPOOL

A passenger train arriving in Brigg some months ago.  Brigg Blog picture - not one of Paul's. See his latest images at https://www.flickr.com/photos/123909447@N05/

PAUL JOHNSON REPORTING ON THE BRIGG LINE SERVICE, SATURDAY SEPT 12

As expected passenger numbers have dropped for travel to the seaside. However, it is now becoming clear that other stations are keeping up with the numbers in its place, Kirton  Lindsey and Brigg being the main contenders.
The British weather had an affect on the 0803 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes via Brigg service, a sprinkling of passengers getting on at Sheffield, Woodhouse & Kiveton Bridge was followed by 19  at Worksop, 9 at  Retford, 4  at Gainsborough Central, 4 on at Kirton in Lindsey and around 10-12 at Brigg, which is where I got off for breakfast. 
The 11.10 Cleethorpes to Sheffield Midland has around 18 on when leaving Brigg at 1144. Again, comments were received on-board from fellow travellers about the lack of an earlier service what highlighted again to the group (Friends of the Brigg & Lincoln Line).
The 1203 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes via Brigg was around 40% full leaving Gainsborough Central, including 5 lads who had come from Merseyside to travel on the line to Brigg. 
The 1520 Cleethorpes to Sheffield Midland service was quite full leaving Cleethorpes with a large section of customers returning to Retford / Worksop
The 1601 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes service was quiet. Reports are the 1836 Cleethorpes to Sheffield Midland service was well loaded with people returning to Brigg, Kirton In Lindsey and Gainsborough Central.
Of course, with the exception of the run up to Christmas, we expect a decrease in numbers due to the format of the timetable and lack of morning and evening services to stretch out the services / travelling opportunities.
The first ever Brigg Line guide was delivered on Monday. The 3,000 copies have already been placed in Worksop & Retford "High Level" Station as well as libraries, town halls, tourist information centres and leisure centres on the line.
Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes stations will be added this Saturday. Scunthorpe Station was another idea but the fare of £20.10p return would put people off. As always, though, there is a cheaper fare that is not advertised.  
We are already at work looking at the design for the reprint which will include details on better ticketing for the public. At present the unworkable tickets on the Brigg Line means customers are getting a higher price of ticket when a lower one is available from another destination, Northern were looking at doing a "Brigg Line Only" ticket but we still await news whether this is going ahead in January. We are also aware that the timetable maybe tightened up  with the famous 0919 Brigg to Barnetby service taking 19 minutes when it should only take 6! 
After last week's joy at a clean Brigg station area, sadly it was back to normal on Saturday - lots of rubbish left by outsiders who come to the station area because no-one can see them.
The issue of the overgrowing trees at the start of Station Road turning the Brigg railway sign green and the lack of a road/footpath to the station front were also brought up again.
40 People used Brigg Station on Saturday. Excluding 5 'on and off' weeks when Brigg resident Phil was not available to count numbers, the total now is 608 for the year. Last year's total was 792. Add the 5 weeks not counted, and consider the rest of the year still to go, and 1000+ is easy to achieve. 

Friends Of The Brigg & Lincoln Lines
Email thebrigglinegroup@gmail.com
Twitter: @Saturday_Only
Website: http://e-voice.org.uk/friendsofbrigg-lincolnlines/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoBLL
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/fobll/86/329/a53
Flickr picture taken along our line: https://www.flickr.com/photos/123909447@N05/
Passenger Survey: http://eSurv.org?s=LIMJGK_d6fe98a0
Brigg line timetable: http://www.northernrail.org/travel/timetables/646400