Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney MP, said: “I am extremely disappointed that Network Rail have, once again, let our City down.
“I am well aware that Network Rail have had their arm twisted by the Office of Rail and Road Regulation (ORRR) in this matter, but we were promised this footbridge and it is incumbent on their organisation to deliver it.
“Network Rail’s decision to push more freight through the Centre of Lincoln City means that public safety will be put at risk if we do not have a footbridge over both our City Centre level crossings. The only alternative is to begin to limit the amount of freight on the East Coast Main Line that diverts through Lincoln to free-up capacity .
“If Brayford Wharf East doesn’t have a pedestrian footbridge over the level crossing at that location, then there is obviously no reason to have changed the traffic flows, as the County Council has done working in partnership , so we all thought, with Network Rail.
“This situation has been compounded by the failure to include the new promised rail services between Lincoln and London in the draft timetables for which I also hold both ORRR and Network Rail responsible.
“I will make it my business to be a problem to all involved in the fiasco and will use all influences at my disposal - both locally and within Government circles and on the Transport Select Committee - to ensure that promises are kept to the people of Lincoln. As their Member of Parliament, I will not allow them, and the City I represent, to be treated in quite a contemptible way by such organisations as Network Rail and the ORRR.”
The Executive Member for Transport and Highways at Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr Richard Davies, said: “While recent developments do give some cause for concern, I am hopeful that by keeping the pressure up from the top down, both the pedestrian footbridge and the draft timetable issues will be drawn to a successful conclusion.
“I am immensely grateful to Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney MP, for his unflinching support in this matter and for the strong representations he is making to both Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road Regulation on behalf of the people of Lincoln and Lincolnshire.”
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For further information, please contact Karl McCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk / 020 7219 7221.