In December 2008, East Midlands Trains cut the number of trains that called at Aslockton, sparking a considerable outcry from local residents. Local people, Aslockton and Whatton Parish Councils, and the County Council all took up the issue in an attempt to persuade East Midlands Trains to reverse its decision.

A large petition was quickly drawn up and presented to the County Council, showing the keen interest in the local train service. And a very detailed survey was undertaken of the usage and requirements that local people had of the rail service. As rail officer for the County Council I get to see quite a lot of surveys undertaken by various consultants about the demand for rail services. The survey for Aslockton, undertaken by Aslockton and Whatton Parish Councils, compares very well with any that I have seen. It contains a wealth of really useful information, and was extremely persuasive in making the case that more trains should stop at Aslockton.

The issue was taken up by County Councillor Martin Suthers, who requested that the County Council press very vigorously for re-instatement of the former level of service. As a result, the Council made a formal request to East Midlands Trains for 8 additional trains to call. The Council made it clear that it thought EMT had got it wrong by cutting the service last December, and that it would be in EMT’s commercial interest, as well as in the interests of local people to re-instate the stops that had been withdrawn. It was made clear that getting restitution of these calls at Aslockton was a top priority for the Council, and that we would not be letting the matter drop !

The Council’s experience is that East Midlands Trains is genuinely open to considering representations made to it. I am very pleased to report that in this case East Midlands Trains has listened to the representations and has agreed that, as from 13^th December 2009, there will be 8 additional trains per day calling at Aslockton;-

·         Additional trains will arrive from Nottingham, and depart    for Grantham at 07.53, 11.01, and 19.01,

and

·         Additional rains will arrive from Grantham, and depart for Nottingham at 09.01, 13.01, 15.01, 18.01, and 22.01.

Please note that, although this re-instates the same overall number of trains as before, they are not at exactly the same times as previously. It is hoped that, as well as catering for travel into Nottingham, the new trains will cater better than previously for travel to and from Grantham and beyond. In particular, we hope that the 07.53 to Grantham, and 17.45 back from Grantham could cater for any commuters into Grantham, and the two morning trains to Grantham and the evening returns could, with their connections at Grantham, cater for days out to places further afield.

East Midlands Trains announced these extra trains for Aslockton at a public meeting in the village on 29^th June. East Midlands Trains has undertaken to run these additional trains for a period of two years, from December 2009 to at least December 2011. As long as the trains have generated enough additional patronage, East Midlands Trains will continue to run these trains after December 2011. Aslockton’s current service is used by around 18,000 per annum, and East Midlands Trains says that another 15% = 3000 passengers per annum are needed to make the additional trains permanent.

Once it has started, the County Council will in 2010 be promoting the enhanced service. We hope local residents will find it useful and will make good use of it.