Extra trains services to be provided from Bottesford station

The timetable changes on the Poacher Line were welcomed today by Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, who has campaigned for them to be brought in to give villagers and residents in the nearby Vale of Belvoir better travel options.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has confirmed today (Thursday) that additional trains will stop at Aslockton, Bottesford and Radcliffe-on-Trent on weekdays (towards Nottingham) and on Saturdays and Sundays (towards Skegness).

Mrs Kearns said: “I promised residents I would secure more train services at Bottesford and I’m delighted that these timetable changes will give residents of the Vale exactly that.

“From May, travelling to Grantham or Nottingham, and beyond, for work or leisure will be much easier with much more frequent services and better connections.

“It will also help bring tourism to our area as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s fantastic to see EMR listening to, and acting on, the requests and concerns of residents.

“I will continue to campaign for further timetable enhancements for residents of Melton and the Vale but today’s announcement is really good news.

“Thank you to all the constituents who responded to my survey on services at Bottesford.”

The new rail services, which were also campaigned for by Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards, in calling for the new rail services will see earlier morning services as well as one additional ‘peak’ service between Grantham and Nottingham on weekdays.

In the evenings, one service will extend from Grantham through to Boston and an additional service will be introduced between Sleaford and Nottingham.

On Saturdays, there will be earlier and additional morning services between Grantham and Nottingham, as well as extra evening trains between Boston, Sleaford and Nottingham.

There will be a significant increase in Sunday services, bringing the service level much closer to weekdays.

This will include Summer Sunday Skegness services, which have previously only operated between May and September, running all year round.

Will Rogers, managing director at East Midlands Railway, said: “Our May timetable change provides major improvements for many parts of the East Midlands and beyond.

“Overall, it will provide more seats, quicker journeys and a simpler and more resilient timetable when it is introduced from Sunday May 16.

“This includes improvements to EMR Regional services with additional weekday and weekend services for Aslockton, Bottesford and Radcliffe as well as the continuation of our summer Sunday services to Skegness throughout the year.

“A further and more significant timetable enhancement for EMR Regional services will follow and we look forward to providing more information on these further improvements later in the year.”

Although the final May changes are still subject to some final amendments, the changes will mean much improved services for many local villages across the Vale, as well as Bottesford.

Mrs Kearns has pledged to continue to work to improve the Poacher Line and the wider transport provision across the Melton area, having already successfully secured £50,000 from the Department of Transport to look at improving train services from Melton to Nottingham.

She also has a commitment from Highways England to improve safety measures at the A52 junction at Bottesford.