Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh backs campaign to save rail link

Pictured after the lunch are Mary Creagh and Austin Mitchell MP.

SHADOW Transport Secretary Mary Creagh backed the Chamber’s campaign to retain a direct rail link to Manchester Airport during a sell-out lunch at the Oaklands Hotel in July.

Having been presented with the Chamber’s Transport Priorities for the region, she told Chamber members about transport plans under a potential Labour Government after the next Election.

Top issue of the day was the direct rail service which is under threat as part of franchise reviews and could result in Cleethorpes, Grimsby and Scunthorpe losing the direct express rail service to Meadowhall and Manchester Airport.
Under new Government proposals, which are out to consultation, the current service will cease, being replaced with a reduced service with passengers having to change at either Doncaster or Sheffield.

The Chamber is lobbying hard, along with MPs Austin Mitchell, who made an impassioned plea to Mary Creagh at the lunch, and Martin Vickers who secured a debate in Parliament the evening before the event, to retain what is regarded as a vital rail link, which if lost, could harm growth and future investment in the area’s rail services for years to come. North and North East Lincolnshire Councils and the Grimsby and Scunthorpe Telegraphs are also campaigning to ensure the service is retained.

Mary Creagh said: “The link between Cleethorpes and Manchester is clearly an important one and we want to make sure people are able to visit the East Coast. The economic benefits such a link can bring are critical to the area. Economic growth can only happen with good road and rail links and I strongly believe that without this link, the area cannot grow.”

Mr Mitchell condemned plans to ship out rolling stock to other parts of the country, something Mrs Creagh said was influenced by a lack of certainty about longevity.

"This proposal must be withdrawn and the consultation extended. To cut off a direct service to Manchester Airport is a serious blow to travel in this area."

Talking about the Chamber-backed efforts to get a direct service to London reinstated after many years without one, Mr Mitchell said: "We need a direct connection. We are the only place with a population of 150,000 within 180 miles of London which hasn't got a direct service. We need it for development of the economy, we need electrification and we need strengthening of the track. Built on marsh, the speed limit is less than the speed limit of the motorway that runs alongside it. It is ridiculous."

Mary Creagh also discussed the importance of different methods of transport being linked up. She said: "Good aviation links are vital for competitiveness and future economic success. We want better integration with airports, and I want to see regional airports flourish."

She said she was pushing Government on clarity over recent announcements about regional airport incentives.

Pictured after the lunch are (from left to right) Chamber President Tim Durkin, Mary Creagh, Austin Mitchell MP and Grimsby transport campaigner Chris Swale.