Lobby sparks additional commitment from Minister to look at electrification of Doncaster to Cleethorpes rail line

Pictured (left to right) are Dr Kelly, Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin, Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy, Claire Perry and Cleethorpes and Grimsby MPs Martin Vickers and Austin Mitchell.

Transport Minister Claire Perry has agreed to a study to look at the case for electrifying the rail line from Doncaster to Cleethorpes following a strong lobby from the Chamber and the area’s Southbank MPs.

Hull & Humber Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly joined a delegation of the four Southbank MPs in Westminster yesterday to lobby the Transport Minister, Claire Perry, on the case for keeping a direct rail link from Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport in the next set of rail franchise arrangements.

The Minister showed a strong understanding of the concerns raised by the Chamber and the four MPs which included Nic Dakin, Andrew Percy, Martin Vickers and Austin Mitchell. 

After the meeting, Dr Kelly said: “The evidence the Chamber and our two South bank authority leaders, Chris Shaw and Liz Redfern, gave to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee on Monday, and our MPs’ meeting with the Minister yesterday, has strongly reinforced the importance our area puts on keeping both the direct rail link from Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport and scoping the Cleethorpes to Doncaster line for future electrification. 

The Minister has also pledged to visit the Northern Lincolnshire area in October which will provide another opportunity to reinforce the importance of the direct rail service in particular.