Harborough Rail Users Committee met at the Red Cow pub in Market Harborough on Monday evening 9th March.  This was a routine meeting and the main topic discussed was the delayed introduction of the new Class 810 Aurora bi-mode train fleet and its implications. The delivery of these trains is very late.  This plus the reduced fleet of Class 222 Meridian diesel trains as the first ones are transferred away for use by open access operator Lumo for London – Scotland services, means we have an increasingly evident shortage of rolling stock for our services at Market Harborough. Trains are too often being cancelled or short-formed (five instead of ten carriages) or have other faults such as toilets not working. We have taken this up with EMR, but it is clear that the remaining diesel fleet is being ‘sweated’, with insufficient spare capacity until the new fleet is fully in service.
The general growth in rail business has exacerbated overcrowding on our trains.  This problem is especially severe when weekend engineering work closes the parallel East Coast Main Line between King’s Cross and Peterborough, with many LNER passengers using EMR services instead.
Other topics covered included the new ANPR car park payment system, which appears to be working well; congestion in the station approach road and forecourt; and concern about the closure of access from the platforms to the middle footbridge at Nottingham station, which is an important interchange point for passengers from Market Harborough. 

The AGM of Harborough Rail Users took place as planned on 26th November at the Methodist Church Centre in the town.
Steve Jones was re-elected as Chair, and the other officers and Committee were elected for the forthcoming year.  We were pleased to welcome another new member to our Committee.  The meeting noted with pleasure the forthcoming reinstatement from December 15th of a later last train back from London on weekdays, at 22:35 from St Pancras.  We also noted the improved bus connections at the station since June. We are hopeful a new operator for the station café can soon be found.
The priorities for the group were confirmed.  These are:

• The train service and connectivity.  We shall continue to press for earlier first trains on Sundays, especially given the unreliability of the present first southbound trains. Improved connections at Kettering onto the EMR Connect service are a priority.  Better connections at Leicester for Birmingham are also sought.
• The introduction of the new ‘Aurora’ bi-mode trains. Once all are in service, these will bring greater capacity plus more reliable wi-fi and seat reservations.  Moreover, their operational performance may give rise to reviews of the timetable.  HRU would want to take part in any consultations about future timetables and stopping patterns, for example, the potential for some Intercity calls at Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway. Both have an important interchange role, which for Bedford will greatly increase when East West Rail opens to Oxford and eventually Cambridge.
• Further improvements to the station, including reopening of the café, and landscaping works;
• Monitoring the operation of ANPR in the station car park. This may help to alleviate the lack of designated short-stay parking on the east side of the station. We also continue to seek covered cycle parking for occasional users for whom joining the Cycle Hub scheme is not worthwhile;
• Further integration of bus services with trains at Market Harborough, especially extension of the X3 bus route to and from the station;
• Maintaining a continued watching brief on the debate about reopening the Northampton line.
• Possibly joining a Community Rail Partnership should that come into existence for Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, as has been proposed. Doing so would help strengthen links between ‘the railway’ and ‘the community’, in turn giving us another means of access to more influence on rail services etc. at Market Harborough.

The 2024-25 HRU Annual Report can be viewed here:  

Harborough Rail Users are holding their 2025 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 26th November 2025.  The meeting starts at 7:00pm, in the Coffee Lounge at the Methodist Church Centre on Northampton Road, Market Harborough.
As well as electing officers for the group for the forthcoming year, the meeting will consider relevant topics including reviewing the past year.  We are particularly pleased that EMR are reinstating from 15th December our later last train from London, the 23:35 from St Pancras, on weekday evenings.
Campaign priorities for the forthcoming year will also be considered.  Among these are the introduction of our new train fleet and possible future associated timetable changes arising from electrification of the line.
Anyone who cares about Market Harborough's station and rail service is invited to come along.  No need to book; just turn up. 
​If you would like to stand for election to the Committee, or nominate someone else (with their consent), please contact Harborough Rail Users via our Get in Touch facility at the top of the screen, or email us at [email protected].

The next open committee meeting of Harborough Rail Users has been arranged for Monday 15th September 2025, starting at 7:00pm, in the upstairs room* at The Red Cow pub on High Street, Market Harborough.
Anyone who cares about the local rail service, including timetables, reliability, fares, and the facilities available at the station, is invited to come along.  No need to book, just turn up.
* Unfortunately, this room is only accessible via stairs.

Harborough Rail Users held their Annual General Meeting on Monday 18th November 2024.  For the first time, this was a hybrid meeting, in person at The Red Cow pub in Market Harborough and online on Zoom. We are grateful to The Red Cow for their hospitality and to national rail campaign organisation Railfuture for facilitating the Zoom call for those unable to attend in person.
Steve Jones was re-elected as Chair, and the other officers and Committee were elected for the forthcoming year.  We were pleased to welcome a new member to our Committee.  The priorities for the group were confirmed; these are:

• The train service and connectivity, including reinstatement of withdrawn early morning and late evening services especially from London, earlier first trains on Sundays, and improved connections at Leicester and Kettering, plus easier access to Luton Airport Parkway;
• The introduction to service of the new ‘Aurora’ bi-mode trains.  We trust these will bring greater capacity to services from Market Harborough, plus more reliable wi-fi and seat reservations;
• Further improvements to the station, including those planned for the forecourt area
  
• Improvement to deal with the continued lack of short-stay parking on the east side of the station and the lack of covered cycle parking for casual users;
• More integration of bus services with trains at Market Harborough;
• Maintaining a continued watching brief on the debate about reopening the Northampton line.

The 2023-24 HRU Annual Report can be viewed here:
hru_report_of_the_chair_-_agm_2024.pdf