Harborough rail users
Improving the quality of Market Harborough's rail service
Looking south along the new trackbed from the north end of the new platforms on a rather murky 1st March 2019. The newly installed footbridge awaits its staircases. The main station building can be glimpsed in the middle background. On Friday 1st March, two members of the HRU Committee joined a guided tour of the Market Harborough station construction site. This was for local stakeholders, including Harborough MP Neil O'Brien and representatives of the Harborough Disability Access Group, and was by invitation of Network Rail, their contractors and East Midlands Trains. Dressed head-to-foot in the regulation orange safety gear, we were shown the progress so far with the new platforms, footbridge and track that has so far been laid on the new alignment. Then it was back to the site office for a sandwich lunch and a presentation on the work still to be done, including the plans for completion of the work. This includes completing the bridge, installing waiting rooms and shelters on both platforms and, ultimately, extension of the car park over the land where the current platforms are.
The station will be closed for six days from Tuesday 28th May to Sunday 2nd June inclusive to allow the new layout to be connected into the main line. When it reopens on Monday 3rd June, the new northbound platform will be complete, but the new southbound platform will need further work associated with demolition of the existing platforms. This will mean the existing subway being temporarily closed, though by then the footbridge will be available. Full completion, including 200 extra car park spaces, is due for December 2019. We remain concerned about the lack of any plans for additional toilets on the southbound side, access for the disabled from the booking office to the platforms, and lack of any platform canopies. Proper provision for cycle parking also remains to be resolved. However, we are grateful to Network Rail for arranging the site visit and for engaging in open dialogue about the scheme. Comments are closed.
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