Government urged to prioritise direct rail link

A letter, signed by more than 24 businesses and organisations, has been sent to the government calling for the immediate reintroduction of direct train services between Cleethorpes and London.

The last direct service was in 1992, and a planned return was delayed in January because improvements are needed at Market Rasen station where the service will stop.

The letter to Lord Hendy, the minister for railways, has been signed by Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn and 24 organisations including ABP, Franklin College and Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce.

In it, Onn urges the minister to "prioritise the introduction of a direct Cleethorpes to London rail service without further delay".

The letter sets out how the rail link could boost the local economy, especially in the renewables sector, fishing industry and Cleethorpes' growing tourism trade.

Onn said: "Businesses have shared their frustrations with me about being forced to relocate meetings away from Grimsby to places like Hull simply due to better transport links.

"This isn't just about attracting future investment, it's about addressing the economic opportunities we're currently losing because of poor connectivity."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the letter states the rail link could generate up to £30.1m annually for Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Barnetby, and Scunthorpe.

Analysis from Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce showed the cost of the service would be about £1m a year - "a relatively minor figure compared to the possibly substantial economic returns," Onn said.

The return of the service is facing delays due to required improvements to Market Rasen station, which could cost up to £20m.

It comes after Sir Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough, told the House of Commons he would "lie down on the line" to stop the train if it failed to stop at Market Rasen, which is in his constituency.

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