Recent update on this petition - Lincolnshire County Council response.

Dear Mr Mascall,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the feasibility of re-opening the Lincolnshire Loop Line.

I am aware that you have met with Transport Policy Manager Ian Kitchen previously regarding this rail aspiration and although this was some time ago (2014) the response provided then is still relevant today. The authority would not progress a feasibility study for this scheme in the current financial climate. As stated previously;

In the current economic climate and with the rail industry needed to find large scale savings in line with the McNulty report, I consider it highly unlikely that a business case could be produced that would demonstrate to the Department of Transport (from whom funding would be required) that the vast sums of money needed to reinstate the Lincoln Loop Line and operate the services (which would inevitable need require public subsidy) would represent good value for money, particularly in competition with other rail schemes across the country.

With limit resources available for such costly feasibility work, the County Council has to focus on supporting services on existing rail routes across the county to ensure that these continue and, if possible, are improved as part of the ongoing refranchising program currently taking place. Hence, we will not be undertaking any investigation work on the re-opening of the Lincoln Loop Line in the foreseeable future.

I am sorry that I cannot not be more encouraging in this instance.

Your sincerely

Jayne