SUSPENSION OF BRIGG PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE SET TO FEATURE ON LOCAL RADIO

 

BBC Radio Humberside is expected to run a report later this week about the current suspension of passenger trains in Brigg.
Train operator Northern halted the Saturdays-only service linking Sheffield with Cleethorpes via Brigg and Kirton Lindsey in early January due to Covid-related staffing shortages. The suspension may continue until late this year, and buses are not substituting for cancelled trains along the route.
Naj Modak came to town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, May 3) to gauge local reaction.
On platform one he interviewed Brigg resident Phill Hewson, who is a keen advocate of local rail travel, and also requested a few comments from us.
The reporter is pictured above with Phill alongside one of the waiting shelters.
During our discussions it was noted that the suspension of passenger trains meant Brigg families could not take the train to Cleethorpes and enjoy Easter Saturday's glorious weather by the seaside. Nor will they be able to do so on other Saturdays in the coming weeks.
Also pointed out was the steady reduction in the Brigg line's passenger train service over many decades. This trend began long before Northern came on the scene. Brigg was originally a mainline station with trains calling seven days a week.
Posters displayed on both platforms at the moment indicate changes to Northern's timetable coming up from mid-May, covering the period through to December 2022.
However, there are no passenger trains indicated to operate along the Brigg line during this period.
Other displays show Brigg station forming part of the railway network and also its connections with other lines via Barnetby and Retford.
Perhaps some temporary signs are in order at present to inform passengers that all trains are currently suspended - this fact not being immediately apparent to those visiting the platforms.
Brigg station has been unstaffed since the late 1960s. It does not have a loudspeaker system nor digital displays to relay information to potential passengers.
The Saturdays-only service through Brigg attracts relatively few fare-paying in comparison with many other routes on the network, and Northern has previously indicated to Brigg Blog that it is currently allocating available staff to trains on its most used services.

UPDATE: We now learn that the piece about the Brigg line will be aired at breakfast time tomorrow (Thursday).  View more here...