BY GEORGE! BRIGG STATION'S PASSENGER USE ROCKETS

Many more people have been using passenger trains calling at Brigg railway station, newly released figures show.
The Office of Road and Rail Regulation has now published the user numbers for the period April 2019 to March 2020 for all stations across the UK.
Brigg station dates back to the early days of railways, so it's great to learn its use ROCKET-ED to 1,678 - a rise of 750 on the same period in 2018/19 when the figure was 928.  That's a rise of 81 per cent... by George!
The next station along the iconic Brigg Line, Kirton Lindsey, recorded an increase of 82 passengers (43 per cent up on the previous period).
These figures, revealing greater use of the Brigg Line by local people, support the efforts being made at present to get more trains calling at our station, improving the current Saturdays-only diesel unit service between Sheffield and Cleethorpes.
North Lincolnshire Council is backing a bid to introduce Barton to Gainsborough trains via Barnetby and Brigg.
The Independent Brigg Line Rail Group is calling for a 'shuttle' between Worksop and Cleethorpes, running through Brigg and Barnetby.
For the period April 2019 to March 2020 when train use rose considerably, this group deserves credit for its work in promoting use of existing Brigg Line trains in places well beyond our area, including Sheffield, Worksop and Retford. This was done in various ways, including publicity, marketing, notices and signs.
It remains to be seen how the railway regulator deals with the next set of figures, which will include the Coronavirus emergency period. It prompted reductions in services on various parts of the network at different times.
Legendary railway pioneer and engineer George Stephenson, who designed the world famous Rocket loco, died in 1848 - the same year that Brigg railway station opened.

 

The entrance to Station Road, Brigg, with informative signage installed by the campaigning group below the traditional British Rail logo and board.