BRIGG TRAIN LINE LATEST FROM PAUL JOHNSON, FRIENDS OF THE LINE

Saturday was the last time Northern Rail services went over the Brigg line as Arriva takes over today (1st April).
As normal the 0803 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes via Brigg service was busy with large loadings at Worksop and Retford again. A group of 11 got on the 0803 service to Cleethorpes at Gainsborough Central at 0900. This was made up of 4 adults and 7 children.  The duo ticket is not available so a rough estimate was £115.50 return for this group, sadly there was a discount available for groups of 10 or over but because we are dealing with customers that have rarely used the train before on the Brigg line this information is not available to them or on offer via the guard's ticket machine.
With the Brigg Farmers' Market on there was an increased number of users using the 1110 service from Cleethorpes to Sheffield via Brigg.  Most of these returned on the 1327 service back to Cleethorpes with comments made again about the lack of flexibility in the present Saturday timetable. Feedback was also received in the week via social media again about the unfair pricing on the line with Sheffield to Cleethorpes via Brigg at £12.55 with a family railcard but Gainsborough Central to Brigg £10.80p return. 
FoBLL and our partners GRaB will work with Arriva to eliminate empty seat syndrome and a fairer pricing structure, along with a better Saturday service on the Brigg Line that gives better flexibility on the route as a whole and not just Cleethorpes bound.