LETTER: Campaigning for better Spalding rail services

We are a small group called ‘Spalding Town. Let’s improve Spalding rail services’ and we are campaigning for a better rail service, a fit service for all the commuters, tourists, shoppers and visitors to the town of Spalding.

We want improved communication links, early and late evening services to Lincoln and beyond and not forgetting a Sunday service we haven’t had since October 4, 1970 - then we had trains to London which is another service we want introduced.

Abellio take control in August and have plans to improve the service hourly between Doncaster, Lincoln, Spalding and Peterborough but that’s not until December 2021. I have written to the company and the Department for Transport to ask if they can bring this forward for the benefit of Spalding and the area.

I did get a reply back from Abellio on May 30 saying this is still under review.

I asked Abellio and DfT to work together but still I am waiting for a proper reply from both parties.

A Spalding to London service could be great for the town, giving opportunities for all... and it could be achieved. The new trains that LNER operate can run on non-electrified lines... even the Lincoln to London service can serve the town and as the population of South Holland is more than 93,000, this will be good for LNER, access to new areas giving more slots to run more trains between Newark and Peterborough on the main line.

And as soon as services improve, I will be able to use the train and relocate to the area after the poor rail services Spalding has had - so let’s look to a better future.

David Mortimer

Skipton, Yorkshire