Farewell Rail campaigner Charles Sharp died in December after 11 years as chairman of the South East Lincolnshire Travellers Association. A "truly delightful gentleman", he helped develop the users group into the well-respected and forceful body it is now. Aged 85 when he died, he impressed meetings with his recall of the halcyon days of the Great Northern and London North Eastern railways and his ability to relate them to today. His death is a great loss to rail campaigning in Lincolnshire.
Dock progress Steel traffic may return to Boston Docks following the award in December of a grant to renovate the rail access and associated facilities. Now a track access grant is needed to keep down operators' costs to match the subsidised road haulage industry.
Sparks promise Electrification of Newark-Lincoln-Grimsby is the subject of a feasibility study funded by the county and district councils. The news emerged after the county rail forum visited the Department of Transport in January. A through service to London which should have formed part of the GNER franchise could result. But the project may be difficult to finance in the newly fragmented rail set-up.
Profit or service The forum also asked the DoT to consider ways of enhancing rural rail services which will not necessarily generate profit for operators. It also reported the alarm of rail user groups at the "diabolical" double-your-money charges being demanded by Railtrack for new stations like Pinchbeck and Donington. The rail feeder coach running between Lincoln and Newark Westgate gives guaranteed connections into the main line.
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