Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has raised the issue of poor capacity on Market Rasen services with East Midlands Trains and the Department for Transport.

“It is regularly the case that scheduled trains serving Market Rasen do not have sufficient rolling stock,” Edward pointed out in his letter to the Transport Minister, Stephen Hammond. “There is frequent overcrowding on the trains, and people who need this service are being left on the platform. I have even heard of a lady on crutches who was not able to make a vital doctor’s appointment in Newark because of the undersupply of rolling stock on this route.”

Speaking later, the parliamentarian asserted that rail users in the constituency were “victims” of East Midlands Trains’ decision to prioritise capacity on the Nottingham to Liverpool route.

“East Midlands Trains blames poor capacity on their contract with the Department for Transport, but the Department claims each Train Operating Company is responsible for capacity themselves. We in this part of Lincolnshire are clearly seen as an acceptable sacrifice for increased capacity on the Nottingham to Liverpool route. This is not acceptable.”