EMR have announced that the much-anticipated extension to the station car park is due to open on Sunday 15th December 2019.  This will provide an extra 200 spaces, bringing the total to 500.  The existing 300-space car park is regularly full by early morning, with excess cars parking in nearby residential roads, or on a non-railway 'overflow' car park that is well named as it regularly floods! 
​Work is also under way around the subway steps and the southern end of the southbound platform, so we hope that opens soon as well.

December 2020 sees significant changes to services on the Midland Main Line from St Pancras, which includes Market Harborough.  The main change is the opening of the EMR Electric service between London and Corby, which doubles in frequency to two per hour each way.  This brings the standard pattern of EMR train services out of St Pancras to six per hour in each direction, comprising:

• Two InterCity services per hour to Derby and Sheffield, running non-stop between London and Leicester
• Two InterCity services per hour to Nottingham, running non-stop between London and Kettering and all calling at Market Harborough 
• Two Electric services per hour to Corby, all calling at Luton Airport Parkway, Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough and Kettering.

Kettering will become an interchange between the InterCity and Electric services.
This means that we retain two trains per hour in each direction.  Southbound, they will all call at Kettering only, then fast to St Pancras.  We shall have to change at Kettering to reach any other intermediate station between there and London.  Passengers for Thameslink-only destinations such as Harpenden or St Albans will have to change twice.  However, the peak-time bus connection between Wellingborough and Bedford will cease, as trains will be reinstated. 
Northbound, our trains will all go to Nottingham, essentially as now.  One per hour will be non-stop from Leicester; the other will call at Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway and Beeston.   The only significant change from now is that the East Midlands Parkway stop transfers from the fast train to the stopping train.
We do not yet know the actual timings, of course, nor about any variations to this standard pattern during peak times or for early morning or late evening services.  For example, some of our late evening northbound trains currently go to Derby or Leeds, as that is where the depots are.
Full details of the proposed timetable are available at:
https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/december2020 

• See page 7 of the linked pdf document for a diagram showing the proposed train service pattern. (The current pattern is shown on page 6.)
• See page 19 for more detail on the effects for Market Harborough. 
• There are also some general FAQs on page 28.

It should be noted that the basic pattern of services is bound by the EMR franchise contract with the Department for Transport plus line capacity constraints on a very busy main line.  However, EMR have undertaken to consider responses carefully in shaping their final timetable submission to Network Rail.

Harborough Rail Users will be responding to the consultation.  Please let us know if there is anything you would like us to take into account: use the Get in Touch facility on our website https://www.harborough-rail.org.uk/get-in-touch.html or email us at feedback@harborough-rail.co.uk 
This is a public consultation, so the EMR website gives a facility for you to respond directly as well.  The consultation closes on 15th February 2020.
And don’t forget, this is the timetable for December 2020 – a year away yet!

At the 2019 AGM on 11th November, Harborough Rail Users reviewed the past year’s activities and set the scene for campaign topics for the next year.
​ 
A busy year
The past year has particularly busy, dominated by the major reconstruction of the station and the franchise changeover from Stagecoach East Midlands Trains (EMT) to Abellio East Midlands Railway (EMR).  Debate has continued about electrification, though we now have greater clarity about future rolling stock for the line.  HRU has also dealt both with day-to-day matters concerning the train service, and much longer-term matters such as the recent proposal to reopen the line to Northampton. 
Again, HRU has played a full part in consultations and has maintained contact with relevant organisations including the rail industry, local authorities, local elected representatives, and transport user representative groups.  The willingness of EMT, EMR, Network Rail and others to meet and discuss various matters was noted, as was the continued support of the local MP and councillors in pressing for further improvements.  The HRU Committee were thanked for all their help and support throughout the year.
​
Campaign priorities for the year ahead

1. Market Harborough station.  Though the rebuild associated with the new track alignment is substantially complete, we shall continue to press for enhancements to the new station including accessibility arrangements; toilets on the southbound platform; better shelter and waiting rooms; cycle parking; and short-stay parking in the new car park.  We await news from EMR of plans they already have for some of these.  EMR and Network Rail are planning an opening event in December 2019 when the full length of platform 2 is due to open, along with the car park extension and the refurbished subway, and we discussed ideas for related commemorative activities.
2. Train services.  We shall continue to press for improvements to the timetable including, but not limited to, earlier northbound first trains and later last southbound trains.  We shall take part in consultations about future timetables, especially for the major re-cast planned for December 2020, when the Corby electric service is due to start.
3. Rolling stock.  Rolling stock plans for the short- and longer-term have now been published.  We shall take part in any consultations on the interior fit-out of the new Hitachi bi-mode trains that are due to enter service from 2022. 
4. Electrification.  Associated with the Corby line electrification and its planned power substation at Braybrooke, we support the intended ‘last mile’ electrification into Market Harborough.  We support extension of Midland Main Line electrification northwards as well; a decision on this may become associated with decisions on whether the eastern branch of HS2 proceeds.
5. Northampton Line.  We support the recent proposal for the reopening of the Northampton Line, noting that a short section of new route would be needed around the outskirts of Market Harborough. We note that the proposal includes ‘compensatory provision’ for the Brampton Valley Way cycle track along the route. 

The reorganisation of local government in Northamptonshire means that the County and all the District Councils will be replaced by two new unitary councils from 1st April 2021: West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire.  In preparation for this,  there has been consultation on the West Northamptonshire Strategic Plan, looking at planning and infrastructure for the area.  It includes a proposal to reopen the line between Market Harborough and Northampton as part of ‘North–South Rail’.  As well as providing a useful local connection, it would be part of a valuable inter-regional route linking Nottingham, Derby and Leicester with Northampton, Milton Keynes and, potentially, Heathrow Airport via the planned Crossrail and HS2 interchange at Old Oak Common in west London.  It would also complement 'East-West Rail', which is planned to reinstate the rail link between Oxford, Bedford and Cambridge. 
As the section of the line within Market Harborough has been lost to redevelopment, a short new section would need to be built around the outskirts of the town.  Provision would also need to be made to replace the popular Brampton Valley Way footpath and cycle track along the route.  Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, has stated that he is 'very supportive' of the idea.  Harborough Rail Users will consider the proposal at its forthcoming AGM on 11th November.  However, in response to requests for interviews by local press and radio, HRU Chair Steve Jones gave his personal support for a line that would fill a major gap in the region's rail services.  Though the consultation is now closed, further information can be found at:
https://westnorthantsplan.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/WNSPIssues/consultationHome

Harborough Rail Users are holding their Annual General Meeting on Monday 11th November 2019 in Room 5 at the Roman Way Community Centre, Market Harborough.  The meeting starts at 8:00 pm. 
As well as electing officers for the group for the forthcoming year, the meeting will consider relevant topics including: 

• Reviewing the past year, which has been dominated by the station rebuild and the franchise changeover to EMR
• Determining campaign priorities for the forthcoming year.

Anyone who cares about the local rail service, including timetables, train service quality and reliability, fares, access to the station and platforms and the quality of the facilities available, is invited to come along and get involved.