The last time there were direct services from Cleethorpes to London, John Major was the UK Prime Minister, Pearl Jam was the biggest band in the world and Charles and Diana were on the brink of official divorce. Safe to say, it’s been a while.
But now, there are plans to bring back direct trains between the Lincolnshire seaside town and London King’s Cross for the first time since 1992. Rail operator Grand Central is seeking permission from Network Rail to start running the services again.
The route would stop at Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Thorne South, Crowle and Althorpe stations. Grand Central said it would have four return services per day, offering an extra 775,000 seats annually. And analysis has shown that it could bring a whopping £30 million in economic growth to the region, too.
Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, has previously said of the plans: ‘This isn't just about attracting future investment into our town, it's about addressing missed economic and social opportunities due to current poor connectivity’
After delays in getting plans off the ground, MPs met on Thursday, May 15 to discuss the proposal again. In response to questions from local MPs, Simon Lightwood, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, said: ‘The Department continues to review the application from Grand Central to introduce open-access services between London and Cleethorpes, and will provide its views to the regulator in due course. Access to the rail network, however, is ultimately a decision for the regulator.’
Paul Hutchings, managing director responsible for Grand Central, has said of the plans: ‘If approved, these services will play a pivotal role in driving regional growth by linking underserved communities to key commercial opportunities, benefiting both local businesses and passengers.’
Basically, nothing is set in stone yet. However, it’s thought that if approved by Network Rail, the services could start running from December 2026.
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