The Azuma trains can run up to 125mph and will operate from May 2019.
Lincoln’s promised extra trains to London have been in the balance since the termination of the Virgin Trains and Stagecoach Group East Midlands Mainline contract – and now it’s looking like the services will be delayed at the very least.
Before the franchise collapse and takeover by LNER, Lincoln’s long lasting campaign for extra links was finally met with the promise of five trains to London and six returns from May 2019.
The 11 trains would have been every two hours and would be direct to and from the capital.
Commuters were given assurances in May by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling that the scheme would still be upheld.
On Wednesday, MPs met for a House of Commons debate over the East Coast Mainline Investment.
Lincoln MP Karen Lee said she had been led to believe the trains would not come to fruition: “I have heard through the grapevine—even though I am the MP—that we are not now getting those extra trains. Apparently there is a problem with the trains and the timetables.”
Chris Grayling previously gave assurance that the commitments for Lincoln to London trains would be upheld.
She added: “Additional services would provide a huge boost to the local economy. Tourism is a big deal in Lincoln. There would be benefits to residents, businesses and Lincoln’s industry in general.
“For months, I have been fighting to ensure that Lincoln gets the extra services that have long been promised. My constituents should not have to suffer because of the Government’s mismanagement of the rail travel system. Neither should businesses.”
Jo Johnson, Minister of State for the Department for Transport, responded with more commitments to Lincoln’s London rail links.
However, he acknowledged there would be a delay.
“The industry is reviewing proposed changes to the May 2019 timetable as part of a new and strengthened process to ensure that everything is ready before improvements are introduced and avoid the unacceptable disruption that passengers experienced in parts of the country this summer”, he said.
“That process is ongoing for the whole industry, but at this stage LNER has taken the decision to introduce improvements more gradually than was previously planned.
“The hon. Lady will get her services at Lincoln, and the rail industry intends to provide an update on plans for the May 2019 timetable across the country in the coming months.”
An LNER spokesperson said: “We have previously announced plans to introduce additional services to Lincoln in 2019. We are working closely with our industry partners to deliver these improvements as soon as possible.
“The rail industry is reviewing its approach to upcoming timetable changes and it remains our intention to deliver further service enhancements and journey time reductions when it is possible to do so.”
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The latest infection rates and case numbers in Greater Lincolnshire are highlighted on a new interactive map with government data.
You can see infection rates data for the last seven days at postcode level.
The map splits the country into neighbourhood population areas of around 7,000 people.
The areas are colour coded depending on the infection rate per 100,000 people in the past seven days. Data is updated weekly on Tuesdays.
In Lincoln for example, the ‘Wharf & University’ area has 30 cases in the seven days up to October 13, with a seven day rolling rate of 273.8 per 100,000.
The infection rate in Lincoln is low to moderate.
Areas of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire have the highest infection rates in our region.
Greater Lincolnshire passed the 5,000 COVID-19 cases mark on Monday, as 252 new positive tests were reported.
North East Lincolnshire also topped the 1,000 case tally in the latest UK coronavirus dashboard figures, which show 155 cases in Lincolnshire, 42 in North Lincolnshire and 55 in North East Lincolnshire.
It means means there have been 3,109 cases for the month of October.
NHS figures have reported two further deaths in the region on Monday, both at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust facilities.
How Lincolnshire’s cases have looked since the start of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the government’s own death tally, which includes those both in and out of hospitals and those of residents in hospitals outside the county, increased by three.
It includes one further death of a Lincolnshire resident and two North East Lincolnshire residents.
Nationally, cases increased by 18,804 to 741,212 while deaths jumped by 80 to 43,726.
Lincolnshire is currently still on the medium (tier 1) level for the the new three-tier lockdown system of COVID-19 risk, which means it has no extra restrictions on top of the nation-wide ones.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire for Monday, October 19
7,701 cases (up 252)
5,100 in Lincolnshire (up 155)
1,594 in North Lincolnshire (up 42)
1,007 in North East Lincolnshire (up 55)
424 deaths (up three)
292 from Lincolnshire (up one)
91 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
41 from North East Lincolnshire (up two)
of which 286 hospital deaths (up two)
153 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
5 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
127 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up two)
741,212 UK cases, 43,726 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
A further four schools in Lincolnshire have positive cases of coronavirus on Monday.
Lincolnshire County Council said on Monday, October 19 that it is working with 68 schools with COVID-19 infections.
A further two schools in North East Lincolnshire have reported cases since Friday. There have been at least six schools with cases in North Lincolnshire since term resumed in September.
The latest additions to the county council’s list are Claypole Primary School, St George’s Academy (Ruskington), Swinderby All Saints Primary School, University Academy Holbeach.
Woodlands Academy (Spilsby), Bassingham Pre-School, Hawthorn Tree School (Boston) and Springwell Alternative Academy (Grantham) are the schools currently closed.
Andy Fox, consultant in public health, said: “As of this Monday, Lincolnshire’s Health Protection Team is currently working with 68 schools that have had confirmed cases of coronavirus.
“All schools are taking action to limit the potential spread of the virus, with some pupils and staff self-isolating as a precaution where necessary.”
Schools with current confirmed cases (new in bold at the top):
Claypole Primary School
St George’s Academy, Ruskington
Swinderby All Saints Primary School
University Academy Holbeach
Lincoln College
Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough
Hackthorn Primary School
Kesteven and Sleaford High School
Somercotes Academy, North Somercotes
Lincoln Castle Academy
Lincoln Carlton Academy
Bluecoat Meres Academy, Grantham
Dunholme St Chad’s Primary School
Kesteven and Grantham Girls School
Hogsthorpe Primary Academy
Bassingham Pre-School (closed)
Barrowby Primary School
Billingborough Primary School
The Priory Academy LSST
Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham
Boston College
Hawthorn Tree School, Boston (closed)
Caistor Yarborough Academy
Haven High Academy, Boston
Malcolm Sargent Primary School, Stamford
St George’s Academy, Sleaford
St Peter and St Paul Academy, Lincoln
Kirkstone House School, Baston
Stamford Endowed Schools
Manor Leas Junior School, Lincoln
St Hugh’s Catholic Primary, Lincoln
Ermine Academy, Lincoln
St Giles Academy, Lincoln
Branston Community College Academy
Grantham College
Kelsey Primary School
Birchwood Junior School, Lincoln
Great Steeping Primary School, Spilsby
Walton Academy, Grantham
Wragby Primary School
Woodlands Academy, Spilsby (closed)
Skegness Academy
Blyton Cum Laughton Primary School
Castle Wood Academy, Gainsborough
The King’s School, Grantham
Westgate Academy, Lincoln
William Farr School, Welton, Lincoln
Sir William Robertson Academy, Welbourn, Lincoln
Kisimul School Acacia Hall, Freisthorpe
Leslie Manser Primary, Lincoln
Lincoln St Christopher’s Special School
Long Sutton Primary School
Market Deeping Community Primary
Springwell Alternative Academy, Grantham (closed)
St Nicholas Primary, Boston
Community Learning in Partnership, Gainsborough
Grantham Preparatory International School
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Horncastle
St Michael’s Primary School, Thorpe on the Hill
University Academy Long Sutton
Denton Primary School, Grantham
Bridge House Independent School, Boston
Charles Read Academy, Grantham
De Aston School, Market Rasen
The Lancaster School, Lincoln
The St Sebastian Primary School, Grantham
Waddington All Saints Academy
Bourne Academy
Public Health are also aware of the following three cases at nurseries:
Town and Country Kiddies Nursery, Louth
Seashells Nursery, Mablethorpe
Angels Childcare, Lincoln
North East Lincolnshire
There are currently 27 schools and education settings with confirmed cases of coronavirus in North East Lincolnshire after a further two were reported on Monday.
North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council said it was unable to provide data regarding schools in the region with coronavirus cases.
There is understood to have been at least six cases at North Lincolnshire schools since term restarted in September.
South Axholme Academy, Epworth
Enderby Road Infant School, Scunthorpe
St Lawrence Academy, Scunthorpe
Baysgarth School, Barton-upon-Humber
Frederick Gough School, Scunthorpe
Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue, Scunthorpe
In addition, John Leggott College in Scunthorpe has also had a positive case of coronavirus.
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