Stations selected for transport hub pilots

Two railway stations are set for improvements to encourage more commuters to leave their cars and use trains, bikes or buses to get to work.

Hykeham and Gainsborough Lea Road stations have been selected as transport hub pilots in a new plan by Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns.

A feasibility study will be carried out on a park-and-ride facility at Hykeham station on the Lincoln to Nottingham line.

Plans are still being developed for Gainsborough, which a report on the hubs describes as being in need of an upgraded footbridge and a larger car park.

The improvements were discussed at the mayoral overview committee on Wednesday.

Lana Meddings, the mayoral authority's transport and growth manager, said: "Integrated hubs will bring together different modes of transport and make journeys easier, more reliable and more attractive."

However, Gainsborough councillor Matt Boles said it was crucial train services became more reliable.

"People in Gainsborough want to use that train station," he said.

"They flock to it on Saturday for an afternoon out in Lincoln or use it to get to Retford at 7am.

"But many are let down by cancelled trains and changing timetables.

"If you go to Lincoln, you're not guaranteed to get home, which costs a fortune for a taxi."

Meddings said the authority worked closely with train operators on timetables, and talked with them about improvements.

Transport hubs could be rolled out to other locations after the pilots, and the authority said there had been lots of interest from transport providers, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A report on the proposals for Hykeham said: "Given the significant commuter flows into Lincoln, the location presents a valuable opportunity to promote seamless multi-modal journeys and reduce reliance on private car travel.

"Further options, including a park and ride facility, are being considered as part of the wider feasibility study."

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