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 welcomed the announcement on 24th November 2025 that regulated rail fares, which usually rise by RPI + 1% each January, were to be frozen in 2026.  The Government is under great pressure over the cost of living and presented the fares freeze as a contribution toward easing the burden.  We in HRU have long complained of the fares from Market Harborough being disproportionately high compared with some other lines and stations such as Northampton.  Though the fares freeze does not change that, it does help make rail travel more affordable.

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].

For a number of years now, our last train back from London on a weekday evening has been the 22:35 from St Pancras (22:31 on Saturdays). 
This is too early for an evening out in London.  There are later trains from London on weekdays, at 23:04 and 23:35, but these currently run via Corby and Manton Junction, bypassing Market Harborough.  One reason has been the overnight electrification work, but this is now complete.
Along with Harborough MP Neil O’Brien, we have been pressing EMR for reinstatement of a later last train for some time.
EMR have announced that from Monday 15th December, the 23:35 from St Pancras will call at Market Harborough (arr 01:13).

​EMR caution, however, that one week in six, this train will return to the Corby and Manton route, bypassing Market Harborough.  However, when that happens, there will be a bus connection from Kettering.  The reason is that the Corby and Manton route is often used for diversions when the line through Market Harborough is closed, e.g. for engineering work.  Train crews need to maintain up-to-date route knowledge, so this train will be used for that purpose one week in six.  It means that diversions can be put in place at short notice if need be.

EMR have announced that many of their station car parks are to have Automatic Number Plate Recognition, ANPR, technology installed, starting later in October. 
Market Harborough is included, along with Kettering and Wellingborough, in November 2025. (Market Harborough will receive its ANPR equipment on 24th November 2025, which will come into use a day or two later.)
ANPR uses cameras to capture and recognise vehicle registration numbers, helping to manage car park access more efficiently and securely. EMR are working with car park operator APCOA and the system replaces car park tickets and card permits. 
EMR advise that customers will need to pay on arrival, within 30 minutes of entry.  Drop-off and pick-up zones included in ANPR areas will have a 30-minute free period.  As pick-up and drop spaces at Market Harborough are very limited, this is a significant advantage. If a journey is disrupted and customers return after their pre-paid day parking has expired, any extra charges can be refunded via APCOA's customer service team. 
Parking for Blue Badge holders will become park free of charge.  This is a major improvement, but users must register their vehicle in advance with APCOA.
Customers will continue to be charged a day rate while using the car parks - as is the case currently.  They will be able to pay for parking in the following ways:

• Paystations at stations
• Cash at station ticket offices - but only when the ticket office is open
• By phone (An automated telephony system)
• ScanPay (By scanning a QR code on signs at the station)
• By the APCOA Connect App
• On the APCOA website, including Auto-pay functionality to automatically charge each time the customer parks

More information about the ANPR system, including frequently asked questions, can be found here: https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/anpr-car-parking
ANPR is well established at other stations around the country.  We in Harborough Rail Users welcome some of the changes ANPR will bring, not least because the car park barriers can be temperamental!  We are also pleased that Blue Badge holders will be able to park free of charge, subject to registering their vehicle beforehand.
​We have raised some questions with EMR regarding concessions for the station adopters (the volunteers who maintain the flower planters around the station) and the degree of flexibility allowed for car park season-ticket holders.