EMR announces the return of Skegness Summer Specials

East Midlands Railway (EMR) will use Class 180 trains for its Skegness Summer Special service this year – offering customers more luggage space as they travel to the seaside town. 

Class 180 trains are typically used on EMR Intercity services to and from London St Pancras International and are designed with more luggage space than the Class 156 trains which operate the majority of the Poacher Line services.

The Summer Special services, which will begin at Derby, as opposed to Nottingham, are intended to provide additional capacity and options for customers who want to travel to the seaside town this summer. Services will run every Saturday from 23rd July through to 10th September at the following times:

• 0758 Derby - Skegness
• 0923 Derby - Skegness 
• 1142 Skegness - Derby 
• 1344 Skegness - Derby 

The new May timetable, which begins on the 15th, will also see the return of four services which were removed due to low winter demand last year. 

The returning services are:

• 0846 Nottingham – Skegness
• 1114 Skegness – Nottingham
• 1346 Nottingham – Skegness
• 1614 Skegness – Nottingham

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “Our Skegness route is very popular with our customers in the summer and every year we help thousands of families as they head to the coast to enjoy all the treats the seaside getaway can offer.

“The Class 180 Intercity style trains will offer customers more luggage room, while the increase of the summer services will also provide people more options of when to travel.”

Alex Saul, Resort Director at Butlin’s Skegness said: “It’s great news to see more services coming to Skegness in time for our busy summer season. Increasing the service gives guests more options when planning their journey to resort for their holiday.

"With the return of our popular day visits, we know many guests will be using the train to enjoy a fun filled day at Butlin’s Skegness."