Harborough Rail Users respond to December 2020 timetable consultation

Following discussions and comments from local rail users, Harborough Rail Users have submitted a response to the EMR consultation on the timetable from December 2020.  This is when the electrification from Bedford to Kettering and Corby opens, with two trains per hour (2tph) between Corby and London, calling at all EMR intermediate stations.  Because of this, EMR propose that the Intercity trains that serve Market Harborough will stop only at Kettering on their way to or from St Pancras.  We will still have two trains per hour, at roughly half-hourly intervals, with Nottingham via Leicester being the other destination.  London to Sheffield will also have 2tph but these will run non-stop between St Pancras and Leicester.
We have submitted our comments:

• Broadly supporting the split between the Intercity and Electric services, which gives us fast London journeys but also connections at Kettering every half hour with the intermediate stations.  
• Recognising that the Electric services will reduce overcrowding on our trains to and from London.
• Welcoming earlier morning first trains and later evening last trains - though in both cases the planned enhancements could be improved. 
• Welcoming the reinstatement of trains between Wellingborough and Bedford in place of the present replacement bus.
• However, we are concerned about the loss of through services to and from Luton Airport Parkway and have called for some of our Intercity trains to stop there.
• Subject to the actual timetables, we are concerned about connections times at Leicester for those travelling to stations on the route to Derby and Sheffield.
• We have repeated previous requests for an earlier first northbound train on Sundays.

Our full response can be viewed here:
2020-02-03_emr_dec_2020_tt_consultation_-_hru_response.pdf. 
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EMR posted details of their proposals for the Midland Main Line on their website: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/december2020. 
The consultation closes on 14th February and responses will then be analysed.  Between March and September, EMR, Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road (the Government's regulatory body), and other train operators such as Thameslink, will determine how best to accommodate the various demands on the line.  Agreed timetables must be published by mid-September 2020, 12 weeks before they come into effect in mid-December.