SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF BRIGG LINE TRAIN SERVICE

The train calling at platform one at Brigg railway station on Saturday at 9.04am was the first to pick up passengers here for six months.
The diesel from Sheffield via North Nottinghamshire and Gainsborough arrived a few minutes late, but the three passengers from Brigg who boarded, bound for Cleethorpes, were just happy to see the service resume after such a lengthy break resulting from the Coronavirus emergency which led to the withdrawal of trains in March.
Saturday saw normal service resume in Brigg with the introduction of a new timetable by train provider Northern.
It allocated a two-car Class 150 unit for the initial run, perhaps suggesting that the elderly Pacers have finally make their final journeys along the iconic Brigg Line (some survivors from this 'bus on wheels' class have now gone to UK heritage railways).
Three trains in each direction were timetabled through Brigg on September 19.
New signs have been erected in the town to point the way to the railway station - one being pictured here in the A18 bus shelter near Wetherspoon's White Horse pub. There is also a new information board at the top of Station Road, underneath the familiar red and white British Rail sign.
All being well and government virus restrictions permitting, passenger trains will be calling at Brigg station again this Saturday (September 26). The first of the day towards Grimsby and Cleethorpes is timed to depart at 8.59am. Change at Barnetby for connecting services to other destinations, including Doncaster and Lincoln.
Only one passenger got off the train in Brigg on Saturday; he was a train-lover from Nottingham who had travelled via Sheffield with his cycle. He is visiting all the remaining stations in the UK and was looking to add Brigg, Ulceby and Kirton Lindsey to the already extensive list recorded in his notebook.
We watched him cycle off down Station Road on Saturday morning on his way to Barnetby via the A1084 Bigby High. This avoided using the busy A18 in breezy conditions. Brigg Blog recommended a couple of refreshment stops - Brigg Garden Centre's restaurant and Barney's diner at Barnetby Top.
We hope he managed to achieve his target on Saturday and enjoyed his bike/train visit to North Lincolnshire.
There are some people in Brigg today who do not realise that the town has a functioning railway station, if only offering a Saturday-only service at present.
Please help to spread the word if you have friends/neighbours who have moved to the town in recent years.
PICTURED ABOVE: Jackie and Peter Brock, from Brigg, boarding the first train of the day on Saturday for a day out in Cleethorpes. Below - the train arriving in platform one, and a couple of the new signs.