The Member of Parliament for Uttoxeter, Kate Kniveton, has today (18/09/23) written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, along with Parliamentary colleagues calling for improvements to train services on the Crewe to Newark Castle regional railway line.
The service which passes through Uttoxeter connects some of the biggest cities in the Midlands including Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Nottingham. Ms Kniveton has brought together Members of Parliament from across the West and East Midlands to make the case for further improvements, beyond the additional rolling stock and the reintroduction of four extra weekday services confirmed for December 2023.
The letter, organised by the Burton and Uttoxeter MP, was signed by Jack Brereton MP, for Stoke-on-Trent South; Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire; Bill Cash, MP for Stone; Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark; Jo Gideon, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central; Tom Randall, MP for Gedding, and Darren Henry, MP for Broxtowe.
The group of MPs have urged the Transport Secretary to deliver a half-hourly service for the railway line and to introduce a full Sunday service. Many of Ms Kniveton’s constituents highlight to her the problems they face with trains not running until mid-afternoon on a Sunday and the impact this has on local businesses, including Uttoxeter’s Racecourse.
The regional MPs pressed the Secretary of State to recognise the huge economic value these service changes would have for the region and asked for him to get behind their shared ambition for the future of the Crewe to Newark Castle railway line.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton MP said:
“I am pleased that so many of my parliamentary colleagues have signed my letter to the Transport Secretary, calling for the introduction of a half-hourly service along with a proper Sunday service on the Crewe to Newark Castle line which serves Uttoxeter. We know there is huge potential to grow the usage of this line, but they, like me, will know all too well how the current level of service is a hindrance to our residents taking the train.
“By investing in the line and delivering a more frequent service, not only will our constituents benefit from greater connectivity, but this move would support new economic growth and jobs in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.”
