The Big Timetable Change: Transport UK and EMR set to transform travel across Lincolnshire

Transport UK and East Midlands Railway (EMR) has announced a raft of improvements to its regional timetable that will bring significant benefits to customers across Lincolnshire.

Taking effect from Sunday, 14 December the timetable brings a range of improvements to services across the Midlands - delivering wider economic benefits of £2.4 million a year.

It is designed to enhance reliability, expand capacity, and strengthen connections between communities - all while supporting the long-term economic ambitions of the region.

Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said: “Since EMR began operating in 2019 under Transport UK, we’ve increased the number of train carriages serving our Regional routes by 50%. This timetable builds on this and makes best use of our available fleet and will be supported by our £28 million regional refurbishment programme, delivering a more comfortable and consistent customer experience.

"The changes are a step change for Lincolnshire and will deliver a huge boost for the region. We have worked very hard to create a timetable that puts the needs of our customers and the communities we serve first.

“By listening to feedback and carefully considering how we can best support the region, we’ve developed a timetable that not only makes it easier for people to get around but also brings a massive uplift in capacity, particularly on the busy route between Nottingham and Lincoln. We are introducing over 20% more seats on this key corridor, with more than 2,000 extra seats on weekdays alone. This investment from Transport UK and EMR will not only make it easier for people to get around but also helps create jobs, support local businesses, and bring people closer together."

Some of the key improvements include:

• Two direct services an hour from Lincoln to Nottingham and Derby throughout the day - leading to an increase in capacity, with over 20% more seats, including more than 2,000 extra seats to and from Nottingham on a weekday, and over 3,000 on a Saturday to help ease overcrowding on the route
  
  
• Lincoln and Cleethorpes will now be extended through to Matlock. This creates a new direct route from the Peak District to the Lincolnshire Coast through some of the region's main cities
  
  
• A new all-day direct service from Lincoln to Cleethorpes, offering improved access to the coast and supporting the region’s growing tourism economy
  
  
• Extension of five trains per day from Grimsby Town to Cleethorpes, Monday to Saturday. These trains will connect with LNER services at Lincoln, reducing the typical off-peak wait time at Lincoln to around 10 minutes from over 1 hour 30 minutes today.
  
  
• Hykeham receives a major uplift in service, with the introduction of two trains per hour on weekdays and Saturdays
  
  
• Improved service between Lincoln and Peterborough. On weekdays, customers will benefit from one additional service in each direction, removing the current long gap in the morning and offering a much more practical option for those connecting with rail services at Peterborough - including onwards to Norwich.
  
  
• During the week, an early morning fast service from Lincoln to Nottingham, departing at 07:16, has been added to address the current one-hour gap in morning arrivals, particularly for commuters.

To allow these wider benefits, journeys from Doncaster to Peterborough will now require a change at Lincoln. This change has been made to enable improved connections at all four locations - Peterborough, Sleaford, Lincoln, and Doncaster - ensuring better use of services and supporting wider regional growth.

Finally, the shuttle service between Newark Northgate and Lincoln will be reduced slightly to enable the increase in services to Newark Castle and Nottingham.

For full details of the December timetable changes customers should visit https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/the-big-timetable-change