Isle MP lobbies rail minister over line retention

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 areas Southbank MPs. Pictured are Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Ian Kelly, Nic Dakin, Andrew Percy, Minister Clair Perry, Martin Vickers MP and Austin Mitchell MP.

Among these was Isle MP Andrew Percy, who also met with the Chancellor, George Osborne MP, this week to discuss this issue also.

Andrew has been lobbying Government hard to retain the direct link to Manchester Airport following the publication of a rail consultation containing a proposal that would end the direct train service. This would mean passengers would have to change trains to continue on to Manchester. Andrew has previously met with the Prime Minister who assured him that the proposals were very much at the consultation stage and nothing had been decided yet.

Andrew said: “We had a good meeting with the Minister who seemed to understand local concern and also the strength of local feeling.We were assured by the Minister that no final decision has been made and that this was very much an open consultation.

“I made the point that the direct link is really important for local business. Government is right to want better connectivity from East to West, and the retention of the Cleethorpes to Manchester direct rail service is important to that and to our local economy.

“Passengers have made clear they want to retain the direct service and I will continue to lobby Ministers and campaign for the retention of the service.”