A company operating rail services in Lincolnshire is encouraging customers to plan ahead and book to guarantee their space for trips to Skegness this summer, as the operator prepares for another busy seaside season.

Building on the success of previous years, East Midlands Railway (EMR), which is operated by Transport UK, will introduce additional capacity on its Nottingham to Skegness route from May 2026, providing thousands more seats each week to help meet demand.

However, customers who do not book ahead may not be able to board their preferred service, warns the train company.

Across the summer timetable, four out of five services will operate with four-car trains, with the remaining services running as three-car trains on key days. This will deliver an increase of more than 13,000 extra seats per week between Nottingham and Skegness, says EMR.

EMR is laying on 13,000 more seats to Skegness this summer but advises passengers to still book ahead.

placeholder image — EMR is laying on 13,000 more seats to Skegness this summer but advises passengers to still book ahead.

Despite the additional capacity, customers are strongly advised to book in advance - particularly for travel on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays - to guarantee their space to the seaside.

Reservations will be mandatory on the busiest days to ensure customers have a confirmed place before travelling.

Customers are also being reminded to travel light where possible. Space for luggage on trains is limited. EMR recommends bringing only one bag per person to ensure it can be safely stowed on board.

Smaller bags can be stowed in the luggage racks above your head (maximum size 55cm(h) x 40cm(w) x 20cm).

Holdalls can be stored between the sets of seats. Larger bags will need to be placed into designated luggage areas. Staff will be on hand to help load luggage at Nottingham and Skegness on key days.

Queuing systems will be in place at Nottingham and Skegness, however customers with pre-booked tickets will be able to join the fast track queue.

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: "We know how popular Skegness is during the summer months, and we’re pleased to be able to offer more seats for customers this year.

“However, trains are still expected to be very busy - especially at weekends- so it’s essential that customers plan ahead and book in advance to guarantee their journey.

“By reserving a space and choosing quieter services where possible, customers can enjoy a smoother and more comfortable trip to the seaside.

"Likewise, we strongly advise to only bring what you need and pack light."

Customers can book tickets and reserve seats via the EMR website or app.