Thursday, May 20, 2021

FANCY A DAY TRIP? BRIGG TRAIN SERVICE RESUMES THIS SATURDAY


Brigg people thinking of making a day trip this weekend now that more of the Coronavirus emergency restrictions have been lifted should note that passenger trains serving our town's station will start operating again from Saturday (May 22) having been suspended since the New Year.
The first train of the day from Sheffield to Cleethorpes will arrive in platform one at Brigg to pick up passengers at 9.13am.
There's an opportunity to change trains at Barnetby to make Saturday visits to Lincoln, Nottingham, Doncaster and other destinations.
The first train of the day to Sheffield via Gainsborough and Retford will call at platform two (the far one) at 11.47am.
Return trains to Brigg leave from Cleethorpes station at 3.11pm and 7.17pm.

Northern is the train operator and has latterly replaced its traditional Pacer diesel units with more modern stock.
The campaigning Independent Brigg Line Rail Group (IBLRG) informs us that Class 150 and Class 158 units are being assigned to our local service.
View the new Northern timetable for Brigg, Barnetby and Kirton (plus other useful information) through this link...
Although Brigg station's booking office was removed many years ago, passengers boarding trains can tender their ticket money to the guard/conductor once aboard, or use contactless bank cards.
Potential passengers, particularly families, can therefore take a look at the early morning weather on Saturday before deciding if they are going to catch the train for a day out in Cleethorpes. The beach is literally a stone's throw from the terminus station.
Please remember that masks still need to be worn while travelling on public transport.
Since cutbacks by British Rail in the early 1990s, passenger trains have only called at Brigg station on Saturdays.
However, the IBLRG, North Lincolnshire Council and others are pressing the Government for this to be extended to other days of the week.
The rail group is suggesting a new 'shuttle' between Worksop and Cleethorpes via Brigg; the council favours the introduction of a service between Barton, Barnetby, Brigg, Kirton and Gainsborough.

PICTURED: Brigg passengers boarding a train to Cleethorpes last year (main image) and a sunny summer scene at the resort's terminus, pre-Covid emergency (inset).