REFURBISHED TRAIN SERVING BRIGG

BY PAUL JOHNSON, BRIGG RAIL LINE CAMPAIGNER

Saturday (October 17) saw the Porterbrook refurbished Railbus 144012 make an appearance on the Brigg Line, working the 0803 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes service and the 1110 Cleethorpes to Sheffield Midland return.
A number of comments have arrived via social media about this unit. There seems to be the view that this is an improvement on the 144s that are in service and that the comfort has improved. 
However, the lack of 8 seats taken out to put the new toilet in, and no improvement to ride quality, means this unit will have more of a negative outcome than positive.
A Brigg resident reported: "The first train of the day was 20 down at Brigg due to door closure problems but the 6 waiting passengers held on, secure in the knowledge that they were to be transported in the luxurious surroundings of the trial refurbished Cl. 144012 ".
Reports came in that passenger numbers are holding up well for the time of year, which we must put down to the Brigg Line Fuide and word of mouth that there is a railway!
We have now been told that Northern have a number of options for an improved Saturday service on the Brigg Line.
We are also hopeful that the Gainsborough Central to Cleethorpes stretch will have a fare reduction from January to give the Brigg Line a fairer pricing structure. 
Some pictures from Saturday that were sent in via social media are in the link below. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123909447@N05/

Friends Of The Brigg & Lincoln Lines

Twitter: @Saturday_Only

E-mail: thebrigglinegroup@gmail.com

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: https://www.flickr.com/photos/123909447@N05/

Passenger Survey: http://eSurv.org?s=LIMJGK_d6fe98a0

Timetable: http://www.northernrail.org/travel/timetables/646400