Do you use London Travelcards from Market Harborough?  And, if so, are you aware that there is a possibility that they may be withdrawn?  This arises as part of the Government’s Transport for London (TfL) Funding Settlement, dated 25th February 2022, which requires TfL to move towards financial sustainability post-pandemic.  One of the requirements is “consideration of potential new sources of income”, and among these is “New revenue streams”.  So far, so good, but one element of this is that:
“TfL will provide to DfT an impact assessment on different passenger groups of the withdrawal from the travelcard agreement prior to commencing with the withdrawal”
The impact assessment is to be completed by 29th April, and the Mayor of London is required to commence a public consultation by 27th May.
We in Harborough Rail Users have written to Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, expressing concern about the possible withdrawal of London Travelcards.  Concerns include:

• Detriment to occasional day-trippers, for whom the Travelcard is a straightforward means of getting into and around London with one ticket;
• Detriment to commuters, for whom a season ticket is just not viable in a post-Covid world of part-time and flexible working;
• Loss of the Travelcard advantage of there being no evening peak time restrictions on the journey home;
• Possible loss of revenue to EMR if Travelcards are withdrawn and there is no equally attractive replacement.  That could then have implications for our train service here at Market Harborough. 

If you share these concerns, you may like to write to your MP, and keep an eye out for the public consultation if and when that commences.

Among the various works continuing at Market Harborough station is the re-siting of the bus stop from the forecourt to the main car park entrance on the east side of the station.  Though labelled for rail replacement buses, the stop is also served by the regular Centrebus route 44 linking Foxton, Harborough town centre, Great Bowden, the Langtons, Kibworth and Fleckney.   As shown in the picture below, the new stop has a shelter.  Other modifications to the forecourt include pick-up and drop-off spaces, staff car-parking, and the long-overdue removal of the pay + display ticket machine.  Further changes are expected once the temporary toilet block is removed, when the new permanent toilets are opened on Platform 1. 

Good progress continues with the electrification of the line from Kettering to Market Harborough.  On 15th March, several overhead support posts were installed behind Platform 1, and other work continues around the station.  The picture below shows one of the masts being lifted into position.
(Photo: Steve Jones)

On 17th January, EMR withdrew eight train services from the Intercity timetable, seven of which called at Market Harborough.  This was because of Covid-related staff shortages; the planned reduction in the timetable being preferable to ad hoc cancellations of trains day by day.  On 23rd February, EMR announced the reinstatement of these trains from Monday 28th February.  In addition, many other services on their Regional network on Sundays will be reinstated from 27th February.  We are pleased that these cutbacks, which have led to some overcrowding on the remaining services either side of the cancelled trains, have been reversed.
The reinstated trains are: 
Southbound:

• 0447 Derby to London St Pancras (via Nottingham) (0600 from MH)
• 0950 Nottingham to London St Pancras will not run (1026 from MH)
• 1412 Nottingham to London St Pancras will not run (1457 from MH)
• 1850 Nottingham to London St Pancras will not run (1925 from MH)

Northbound:

• 0735 London St Pancras to Nottingham will not run (0836 from MH)
• 1205 London St Pancras to Nottingham will not run (1305 from MH)
• 1635 London St Pancras to Nottingham will not run (1737 from MH)
• (Also the 2102 London St Pancras to Sheffield, but this does not call at MH)

Network Rail will soon be starting work on the new toilet block and waiting room at Market Harborough station.  This is long awaited, and further information can be found here:
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/better-facilities-at-market-harborough-station-this-may