CHEAPER TRAIN FARES WELCOMED ON SATURDAYS-ONLY BRIGG LINE SERVICE

BY PAUL JOHNSON, STATION PORTFOLIO MANAGER, GAINSBOROUGH, RETFORD & BRIGG BUS AND RAIL GROUP (GRaB), pictured above at Brigg station 

The news that fares are been reduced in Arriva Northern land, which includes the Brigg Line, seems to be going down well and has been promoted via our media sites.
However, as predicted, comments about the Brigg to Gainsborough Central return fare of £9.10 (down from £10.80) suggest this still seems a little high, based on the mileage travelled. 
Once the new North Notts and Lincs community rail posters have been kindly printed by Arriva Northern, we can get cracking on promoting these lower fares at the 19 station that come under our remit.
There will always be a ceiling of customers we can attract due to the lack of flexibility in the present timetable. 
Due to the lower fares, we are finding that there are now a number of spit-ticketing bargains.
Customers in Mansfield wanting to travel to Cleethorpes would pay a walk-on fare on a Saturday of £30.10p for a day return. Split the ticket at Brigg, i.e. Mansfield to Brigg and Brigg to Cleethorpes, and this saves  around £9.80.
With North Nottinghamshire been our main growth area, this is something we shall promote.
However, we will have issues unless the 0803 Sheffield to Cleethorpes is found more accommodating rolling stock as we requested way back in September 2015.
With three vital connection coming off the 0803 Sheffield Midland to Cleethorpes via Brigg service at Worksop, Retford Low Level and Barnetby, any slight delay can cause catastrophic problems for customers.
We have been trying to see if the 0803 service could leave Sheffield Midland a few minutes earlier.
Sadly the bottleneck that is Nunnery Junction outside the station is proving to be a nightmare.
The guard that works the 0803 service comes off the 0747 arrival from Retford High Level so at least 10 minutes is needed for him to connect to the Brigg line service, as this train departs from platform 1b.