Market Harborough station reopens after six-day blockade

​The driver stands next to locomotive 43081 at the head of the 06:54 from Market Harborough to St Pancras on reopening day.  Network Rail and contractors' staff gather on Platform 1, opposite, to greet the first northbound train, the 06:58 to Sheffield.

Market Harborough station reopened on Monday 3rd June 2019, after a six-day closure, during which the new track alignment was completed.  Though there were no official ceremonies, there was much local interest, plus pride on the part of Network Rail, their contractors and East Midlands Trains that the project had been completed on time and to a very high standard.  The long-awaited footbridge with lifts is now in use.  Though platform 1, northbound, is complete, some work remains on platform 2 (southbound) to bring its full length into use.  Until then, platform 2 is only five carriages long.  Work will continue on this, and the extension of the car park to give an extra 200 spaces.  Though there are additional features that HRU would wish to see provided, there is no doubt that the new station is a massive improvement on the previous one.  

Yep, that looks all right.  Platform staff check the clearance between train and platform for the first northbound departure from Market Harborough's new platform 1, the 06:58 to Sheffield on Monday 3rd June 2019.