Network Rail report discusses ambition to electrify Peterborough to Doncaster line which serves Spalding, Sleaford and Lincoln

South Holland could get a ‘surge’ of benefits if a new vision for electrifying our railway line comes to fruition.

Network Rail has finally published its long awaited strategy for the county – and it contains a host of findings for our area that have been welcomed by political leaders.

The report flags up:

*Electrification of Great Northern and Great Eastern (GNGE) line which runs through Spalding

*Support for a Sunday service for Spalding

*Welcoming existing services stopping at Deeping St Nicholas and Donington

*The potential for a case study for a freight terminal near Spalding to support agri-food businesses.

*How Spalding town centre’s level crossing woes make extending the London-bound passenger services from Peterborough to Sleaford unattractive.

‘Huge potential for transformative change’

While this report is Network Rail’s long-term strategy for the network in Lincolnshire, the recommendations are currently unfunded.

It is hoped that this document will link local ambitions with Government policy – and help identify where cash should be spent.

The report states: “The railway offers huge potential for transformative change, and developing some of the incremental opportunities identified in Lincolnshire Strategic Advice would bring significant benefits to people’s lives across Lincolnshire and the rest of the country, be that through improved passenger connectivity or improved freight flows around the network.”

Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways and transport at Lincolnshire County Council, says the report is good news for the area – with electrification seen as a way to provide greener, faster and more reliable trains (freight and passenger).

He said: “We have been pushing for electrification of certain rail lines in the county so that the obvious benefits such schemes bring are able to boost what Lincolnshire can offer.”

Leader of South Holland District Council Nick Worth is also supportive of plans to electrify the line and provide a Sunday Spalding service.

He feels Government cash could be secured to realise these ambitions by a new Mayorial Combined County Authority, which was announced in last week’s devolution deal.

He said: “They have a vision and the combined authority have powers to drawn down money to make that vision work. Electrifying the line would be good by putting more agri-food businesses on the network.”

What do you think? Would you like to see the electrification of the line? Post your comments below or email victoria.fear@iliffepublishing.co.uk