Grantham to Skegness Line
| Poacher Line | |
|---|---|
Poacher Line
|
|
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale |
Lincolnshire East Midlands |
| Termini | Skegness Nottingham |
| Stations | 17 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1848-1873 |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | East Midlands Trains |
| Rolling stock | |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | Two |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The Grantham–Skegness line, originally promoted as the "Poacher Line", runs for 55 miles (89 km) between Grantham and Skegness in Lincolnshire, England. Trains on this route originate from Nottingham via the Nottingham to Grantham Line as an hourly through service from Nottingham to Skegness, with slower stopping services at peak times. The line is operated by East Midlands Trains British Rail Class 156 "Super-Sprinter", British Rail Class 153 "Super-Sprinter" and British Rail Class 158 "Sprinter Express" diesel multiple units, on a rare occasion ('Summer Saturdays' only) does a British Rail Class 43 (HST) run on this line.
The route was selected as one of the seven pilot schemes under the Department for Transport's Community Rail Development Strategy in 2005 and was formally designated as a community rail service in July 2006. Passenger use of the line has grown since becoming a community rail line and the Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership actively promotes the route through marketing promotions, ticketing offers, music trains and guided walks. Redundant space at stations at Sleaford and Boston is being brought back into community use. Members of the Partnership include Lincolnshire County Council, East Midlands Trains, Association of Community Rail Partnerships and Network Rail. Given the natural flows along it made sense to extend the Partnership to Nottingham. Nottinghamshire County Council was invited to join the partnership and became full members in 2007.
§ All minor stations closed on Sundays
The route is a community rail line. In November 2005 it was reported that the section between Boston and Skegness was unable to take heavier trains although work to enhance the track took place during winter 2009/10. The line is not electrified and is single track from Sleaford to Heckington and Hubbert's Bridge to Sibsey with a passing loop at Boston. These were singled in the early 1980s to reduce track maintenance costs.
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Wikipedia