East Midlands Railway (EMR) is urging customers using stations in Gedling borough for travelling to Lincoln Christmas Market this weekend to consider making alternative travel arrangements
The train firm have said there will be disruption as a result of strike action being taken by members of the RMT. They say there will be significantly fewer staff available to work on trains and therefore a very reduced service will be available.
Customers who have no alternative means of travelling and are planning to travel with EMR are urged to leave extra time for queues at stations and to ensure they have completed their journey by 8pm.
Neil Grabham, customer services director, East Midlands Railway, said: “Asking customers to make alternative arrangements for travelling is never something we would wish to do and EMR is proud to play a vital role in supporting events like the Lincoln Christmas Market and provide safe and reliable transport for customers.
“However, this decision by the RMT to escalate their strike action and target an event as popular as Lincoln Christmas Market means we cannot provide as many additional services as we would wish to.
“We are incredibly disappointed and share the massive frustration of customers, businesses and organisers.
“We would urge those travelling to do so by alternative means, including the dedicated Lincoln Christmas Market Park and Ride and neighbouring train operators.
“More details are available on our website, www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk and www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk.”
There will also be a significant reduced service across the EMR network as a result of the strikes. More information, including timetables are available at www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk and through online journey planners.
RMT has called strikes on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 of December 2021 – and EMR say they are ‘deliberately targeting one of the busiest periods in the East Midlands’.
Outline of amended services on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December:
Services to and from London
Intercity and Connect services will be reduced by 50%. This is comprised of one train per hour to/from Sheffield, one train per hour to/from Nottingham and one train per hour to/from Corby. As a result trains are expected to be busier than usual.
Liverpool to Norwich services
Friday 3rd December 2021
Our Liverpool – Norwich services will run between Peterborough and Nottingham only and will be reduced before 0800 and after 2100.
Saturday 4th December 2021
Our Liverpool – Norwich services will not run.
Because of engineering works, buses will replace trains between Grantham and Peterborough all day. You may use our Nottingham – Grantham shuttle trains to connect with these buses
Derby – Matlock
Our Derby – Matlock services will see a reduced service before 0800 and after 2000. Rail Replacement coaches will run in place of cancelled trains.
Newark Castle – Crewe
Train services will run between Derby and Crewe only and will be reduced before 0800 and after 2000.
Rail replacement coaches will run between Derby and Nottingham.
Rail replacement coaches will replace any cancelled trains between Derby and Crewe.
Nottingham – Lincoln/Grimsby/Cleethorpes
A near normal service will be in place and there will be some limited strengthening, including the use of some Intercity style trains.
Rail Replacement Coaches will run in place of the handful of services which will not run.
Nottingham – Leicester (local stopping service)
Our Nottingham – Leicester stopping services will see a reduced service before 0800 and after 2000. Rail Replacement coaches will run in place of cancelled trains.
Nottingham – Worksop
Our Nottingham – Worksop stopping services will see a reduced service before 0830 and after 2030. Rail Replacement coaches will run in place of cancelled trains.
Nottingham – Skegness
Our Nottingham – Skegness services will run between Nottingham and Grantham only and will be reduced before 0800 and after 2000. Rail Replacement coaches will run in place of cancelled trains between Nottingham and Grantham and between Grantham and Skegness all day.
Doncaster – Peterborough
Services will not run on this route on Friday 3rd or Saturday 4th December. Rail replacement coaches will run in place of trains however because of the Lincoln Christmas Market these buses are expected to be busier than usual.
You may use your ticket on board other operators as follows:
LNER – Between Peterborough and Lincoln (on Saturday) and between Retford and Doncaster.
Northern – Between Lincoln and Doncaster (via Sheffield)
Newark North Gate – Lincoln
Services will be reduced on this route throughout the day. Rail Replacement coaches will run in place of cancelled trains.
