HRU Chair Steve Jones met Network Rail’s Communications Manager Celia Davis at Market Harborough station on 10th February, to discuss current topics for the station and the line.  These included the subway and full length of platform 2, which have remained closed since the new platforms opened in June 2019. 
We discussed the extended car park, which is a major improvement, though HRU feel that better provision is needed for short-stay parking, especially for those dropping off or picking up passengers from that side of the station.  We await further information on the planned further improvements including permanent toilets, plus provision for landscaping around the station.
We also discussed the Station Road bridge in Great Bowden, where local residents have expressed concern about the narrow footway since the bridge was modified to improve its protection from damage by road vehicles.  The local authorities are also looking into this.
HRU were later notified that the subway and platform 2 have now been approved for opening on Monday 17th February 2020.

Network Rail have released a time-lapse video of the 2019 line upgrade work at Market Harborough, showing the main stages of the project from installation of the footbridge back in February 2019 to the first train on 3rd June.  It can be seen at https://vimeo.com/insideoutgrp/mmluprademarketharboroughjune2019.

The temporary speed restrictions through the station have now been removed, allowing trains not stopping to pass through at speed.  

This was the latest in a series of drop-in sessions at the station, where people could find out more about the station rebuild scheme.  Representatives from Network Rail, EMT and contractors Amey were on hand to answer questions.  Though the planned scheme is now well under way, decisions remain to be made about the additional lift, toilets and platform canopies we seek.

On Wednesday 11th April, three members of the HRU Committee met with Network Rail's Project Sponsor for the Market Harborough upgrade scheme at the station for an update on the project following the collapse earlier in the year of main contractor Carillion.  In essence:

• Network Rail is finalising contractual arrangements for construction giant Amey to take over and continue the project, including the track and platform work, to much the same timescale as previously planned.  Decisions remain to be made about exact timing, and the car park work has been delayed partly by the recent severe weather. 
• The scope of the project remains unchanged.  
• Phase 1 of the new car park is nearing completion and is due to open in a few weeks' time.  The approach road is largely complete apart from some finishing work such as fencing and finishing the steel piling on the embankment between the road and the station platform. Posters advising of forthcoming changes to car parking appeared around the station at the beginning of last week..  
• We looked at the safety aspects, both for cars and pedestrians, of the junction between the new access road and Rockingham Road.  The road splays have been widened out and visibility is improved.  However, the railway bridge makes it difficult to do anything more radical with the junction.  Nonetheless, it will improve things at the present multiple junction between the present access road, Great Bowden Road and Rockingham Road.
• 'Harborough in Bloom', who have 'adopted' the station and carried out imaginative planting schemes around it for a number of years, intend to undertake planting to enhance the appearance of the hard landscaping around the station and the new car park.
• Discussions continue behind the scenes regarding the additional enhancements to the station that we in HRU are seeking: the lift, toilets and canopies.  Both the DfT and Network Rail need to undertake review work on the business case and value for money for these and to give a clearer idea on their implications on the wider scheme.  We are grateful to Neil O'Brien MP for his support in seeking the best possible station for Market Harborough.

A site visit at the station took place on 1st December between three members of the HRU Committee, Harborough MP Neil O’Brien and representatives of the DfT, Network Rail and East Midlands Trains. This arose from a meeting on 14th November between Neil O’Brien and Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP at the Houses of Parliament on 14th November; with the DfT also present along with HRU Chair Steve Jones.
The site visit was convened at the DfT's suggestion to explore two particular concerns we have about the station upgrade and track realignment: the lack of proper access for the disabled from the booking office to the platforms and the lack of toilets on the new southbound platform.  We looked around the station site and considered the implications including the best location for a lift, the requirements for mains electrical, water and drainage services and the other improvements that are included in the plans for the station.  The various parties listened to what we said and, while not disagreeing, it was clear that limited finance is the main constraint here.  There are many competing demands for limited funds!  We are grateful that the various parties took time out to visit Market Harborough and discuss the issues openly with us.  However, we will continue to press for these enhancements to what is otherwise a significant improvement to the station.