Another landmark! 9,000 of us! Lots happening over the last ten days.

While the sheer number of us is great, unfortunately to get results signing petitions is never going to be enough: please also let us know how you can help by filling in the form at https://goo.gl/forms/1xlXN3U0tvbnI7WE2 (all offers, no matter how small/simple welcome). The developers of Stanton Cross in Wellingborough have been getting the leaflets in the picture delivered to houses in Wellingborough and handed out at the station. There is complete harmony between what they are seeking and the petition, so if you get your hands on it, please do fill it in. If you are in Wellingborough and have a ‘SaveOurTrains’ poster, please, now is a good time to put it up in your window, too. If you don’t, a print-at-home one can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/WellingboroughRailUsers/281674139021855/ The timetable proposals for May 2018 give the lie to the idea that the Government ‘consultation’ was as genuine as they claimed. If you didn’t catch the last update, you may not yet know that they are planning to introduce some of the cuts from May that they were ‘consulting’ about. From May, no East Mids peak trains will call at Bedford or Luton (town). If we are going to win our overall campaign, it is vital that we get at least a moral victory against these cuts. So, please also sign the new petition at www.change.org/p/saveourtrains-keep-peak-hour-eastmids-trains-wellingborough-bedford-luton-london-no-buses-don-t-add-to-thameslink-overcrowding (but like I said, signing petitions is never going to be enough, so please also let us know how you can help by filling in the form at https://goo.gl/forms/1xlXN3U0tvbnI7WE2 ). Part of the campaigning there will be to do a mass leaflet in the first working week of January of stations between Wellingborough and London (including hopefully some Thameslink stations). We have 10,000 leaflets ready to be handed out. …but still need more offers of help: please fill in the form at https://goo.gl/forms/1xlXN3U0tvbnI7WE2. We are confident of TV coverage of leafletting on 2nd Jan in Bedford. To help in Bedford in particular, please sign up at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/save-our-trains-morning-leafleting-at-the-railway-station-later-times-too-tickets-41428825733 This is on top of coverage on ITV Anglia on 13th December, BBC 3 Counties Radio on 12th Dec, and in the newspapers – Bedford Times and Citizen and Northamptonshire Telegraph. I’ve promised to update you on the outcome of freedom of information requests. I haven’t forgotten: if you want the info, please fill in the original form at https://goo.gl/forms/R14XEmbb9OsMp4sJ2 (it would be good if you could also offer to help at https://goo.gl/forms/1xlXN3U0tvbnI7WE2, of course). I will be sending it soon. Merry Christmas, and happy campaigning in the new year!