Harborough rail users
Improving the quality of Market Harborough's rail service
Harborough Rail Users today submitted their response to the Network Rail consultation on the upgrading of the line through Market Harborough and the associated rebuild of the platforms and car park. Overall, we support the scheme as it represents much of what we have been campaigning for. It is pleasing that the proposals include retention of the magnificent main building, a new and larger car park and, of course, the new straight and full-length platforms plus a connecting footbridge with lifts.
However, there is no provision for any platform canopies, which we feel the station needs so as to give proper shelter to passengers and staff at what is quite an exposed location. We also hope there will be a proper lift from the booking office to the platforms for disabled people and others such as the elderly and those encumbered by luggage or buggies. The promised cycling hub is included in the plans subject to funding and this would be a major improvement on the current facilities. We now await the intended final designs, which are anticipated in late spring 2017. Network Rail (NR) and East Midlands Trains (EMT) held a public consultation exhibition at Market Harborough market hall on Saturday 12th November, showing their draft proposals for the linespeed improvement scheme through the town and the associated modifications to the station. This was a follow-up event to one held on 27th February 2016 and took account of comments made at that time. One of the main things was a strong local desire to retain the existing main building at the station; this is now intended. The station is to be provided with new full-length straight platforms linked by a new footbridge with lifts. A new car park and road access are to be provided on the east side of the line. Overall, the scheme will be a great improvement on the existing arrangements. However, some decisions remain to be made including the exact design of the footbridge (e.g. whether it will have a roof) and other aspects of access and facilities. There is also no provision for canopies or staff accommodation on the platforms.
Network Rail are inviting comments via:
In March 2016, Leicestershire County Council published a draft Rail Strategy for the county. It was prepared in the context of the major growth in rail traffic and a recognition of the importance of the railways to the economy and prosperity of the area. A significant factor is the government’s commitment to building HS2, the eastern leg of which passes through north-west Leicestershire but without any local stations. The draft Strategy seeks to ensure the best advantage to the area from HS2 despite this. Overall, the draft Strategy is positive towards rail and sets out numerous ways in which rail services in the county could be developed.
Key Priority 1 in the draft Strategy is Maximising the benefits from increased investment in the Midland Main Line railway infrastructure and services and this is clearly of great importance to HRU. In our response, we supported this aim, with particular reference to ensuring that we retain suitably high-quality rolling stock after electrification so that we are not downgraded to an outer-suburban service. Though the Strategy understandably focuses on Leicester and its aim to get within 60 minutes of St Pancras, we stressed that the other stations on the line, particularly Market Harborough, should not be overlooked. With that in mind, we reiterated the need for our station to be brought up to proper modern standards, including accessibility, under the linespeed improvement project. We also supported the various potential improvements to inter-regional services to the West Midlands, via HS2 to the North and via East-West Rail to the Thames Valley and East Anglia. In all of this, however, we noted that the role of the local authorities and LEP is chiefly one of facilitating and lobbying for improvements rather than directly providing them. We therefore support the draft Strategy and hope it will be formally adopted by both the County and City Councils. In May 2016, East Midlands Trains invited us to contribute to the consultation on the timetable from December 2016.
We responded by restating our aspirations for the timetable, especially regarding the gap in the evening peak service from London and the need for a later last southbound train and an earlier first train arrival in Nottingham on weekdays. We also called for an earlier northbound train on Sundays and better connections with other services at interchange stations. Harborough Rail Users have submitted their response to Network Rail's consultation on the track realignment and station upgrade at Market Harborough. Following the well-attended public exhibition on the plans at the town's Market Hall on 27th February, the HRU Committee discussed the proposals and have now written to Network Rail. In summary, HRU:
|
Categories
All
Archives
December 2023
|