Newark and Grantham MPs to fight tooth and nail against Department of Transport plans to cut rail services

The Members of Parliament for Newark and Grantham have today written to the Department of Transport over the possibility of cuts to rail services, and say they will fight tooth and nail against them.

Robert Jenrick, for Newark, and Gareth Davies, for Grantham, have written to the Department for Transport regarding the implementation of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, which would see a significant reduction in train services between Newark and northern cities like Leeds and Peterborough to the south.

The plan outlines how rail timetables may change in the future under the terms laid out in the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).

Mr Jenrick, a regular passenger on services between Northgate and King's Cross, said: "The recommendations would result in a significant reduction of train services between Newark and northern cities like Leeds and Peterborough to the south.

"If this is indeed the proposal, please be in no doubt that I will fight it tooth and nail.

"The service Newark enjoys on the East Coast Main Line is critical to our local economy — to jobs and investment in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire."

Speaking at a meeting of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Lib Dem member Peter Harris said: "The main aim of the Integrated Rail Plan is to reduce travel times into London, but what is the cost of this?

"For Newark, the technical appendix gives Newark only two trains north — one two-hourly service to Lincoln and one two-hourly service to Hull. This latter train will not stop at Doncaster.

"There will be no way of travelling from Newark north to Leeds, or York, or Newcastle or Edinburgh as now, directly. There will not even be a chance to change trains for a service either.

"The only way to go north will be to travel south to Grantham for a once-an-hour train to York and Darlington, and then changing again for northbound trains. Getting to Leeds is not an option available at all.

"This is appalling — hundreds of people from Newark travel to Leeds and Doncaster for work and many others further north to university or on leisure trips. As one example, the 10.15 from Newark Northgate (York, Newcastle and Edinburgh) regularly has 50 travellers joining at Newark Northgate.

"Do you support Lord McLoughlin — previously Transport Secretary and Derbyshire Conservative MP, and now chairs the Transport for the North's comment that 'the government's IRP goes against the best interests of people in the north and fails to deliver a step change in rail services that is the only sustainable, long-term solution?'

"What is the district council going to do to galvanise a better solution for trains from Newark Northgate to the north of the country?"

Keith Girling replied: "Yes I do agree it's not the best solution for Newark and that's why this council will be lobbying to have that service improved. It's not good enough and also I do know Nottinghamshire County Council are doing exactly the same thing."

The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands is down to the Department for Transport and nothing to do with East Coast Mainline operator LNER, although it would be affected.

LNER has recently returned to a full pre-covid timetable.

A DfT Spokesperson said: “This claim is completely false. The Integrated Rail Plan will not only bring more East Coast Main Line services to Newark but they will be faster and more reliable than ever before.

“Our £96bn investment will also benefit other communities along the route through improved connectivity, extra capacity and the creation of thousands of jobs up to 10 years quicker than under any previous plans.”