Direct rail link between Market Rasen and capital could be on track - at last

The Department for Transport is ‘exploring’ a £1 million plan to set up a link between North East Lincolnshire and the capital.

The Minister of State for Transport Andrew Stephenson says there may soon be ‘good news’ for residents who have been calling on the 
government to reinstate 
direct trains between Grimsby and London, calling at 
Market Rasen.

He said recent analysis by LNER (London North Eastern Railway) indicated the service ‘could be viable’.

Mr Stephenson’s comments came after Rasen MP Sir Edward Leigh asked the government to ‘kick start’ the project, which he points out has been ‘promised again and again’.

Speaking in the House of Commons via audio link, Sir Edward said: “I’m sorry Mr Speaker, you haven’t got a picture because the broadband in rural Lincolnshire is so bad, that’s why it’s even more important that we get our through train to London, from Grimsby and Cleethorpes, down to London, which we’ve been promised again and again, a huge catchment area.

“All the government has to do is to kick start this project - and given that they’re spending £100 billion pounds on HS2 - is just to give us £1 million pounds and then LNER will give us the through train.

“Will the government now fulfil their promises and kick start the through 
trains to London, from Grimsby and Cleethorpes?”

Responding to Sir Edward, Mr Stephenson said: “I thank my Rt Hon Friend for his question.

“He has lobbied me on this several times already and I know that my Hon Friend the Rail Minister, the member for Daventry [MP Chris 
Heaton-Harris] is looking at it closely, at what he [Sir Edward] says, and hopefully he may have some good news in due course.”

Mr Stephenson added: “Recent analysis by LNER indicates that such a service could be viable,and the Department is exploring 
this further.”

Back in January, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told the House direct trains 
between Grimsby and London fitted in with the government’s plan to improve infrastructure in the north of England.

Sir Edward has been a vocal critic of the HS2 project, saying it will not help Lincolnshire - despite the massive investment of taxpayers’ money.

He says the direct link with London from the county could be done at a fraction of 
the cost of HS2.

Some residents in Market Rasen believe securing direct rail links to the capital should be Sir Edward’s number one priority. Others think there are more pressing issues to tackle.

It has been decades since the town last had a through train to London - residents currently have to change at Lincoln or Newark.