The campaign for a direct rail service from Cleethorpes to London has gained momentum after Cleethorpes MP, Martin Vickers, raised the issue with the Prime Minister.
Speaking during Prime Minister's Question Time, Martin continued his campaign to restore the direct rail service from Cleethorpes to London, asking the Prime Minister to act to ensure the rail regulator makes its decision as soon as possible.
Martin asked:
"If northern Lincolnshire is to obtain maximum benefit from the northern powerhouse initiative, further improvements to transport connections will be required. One such improvement would be a direct rail service to London King’s Cross from the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe area. Alliance Rail has submitted an application to the rail regulator, and it has been with the regulator for more than a year. Will my right hon. Friend do all he can to ensure that an early decision is made?"
The Prime Minister responded by congratulating Martin on his success in campaigning to maintain the direct rail service from Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport, adding he would look into the matter of a direct link to London.
Mr Cameron said:
"My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the importance of direct connectivity between his constituency and London. We are investing at least £6.4 billion in Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire in this Parliament for that very reason, and I can reassure him that we are listening. Only late last year, the Transport Secretary announced that we would be retaining the direct connection between Cleethorpes and Manchester airport, which is something that my hon. Friend has been campaigning for, and I will look very closely at what he has said today."