South Holland could have more than 100 trains pass through on each of five forthcoming Saturdays.
The East Coast Main Line is being shut north of Peterborough to enable maintenance work to be carried out.
As a result, many passenger and freight trains in both directions will be diverted on to the recently-upgraded GNGE line running through Deeping St Nicholas, Spalding and Pinchbeck.
The total number of “paths” (potential train movements) booked on the first day – Saturday, February 28 – is 116. The picture the following day is rosier with only eight paths booked.
Spalding already suffers badly from road traffic congestion – particularly around the Winsover Road and Park Road areas – when level crossings close. A severe increase in barriers downtime is likely to have a profound effect.
“This has the potential to cause horrendous tailbacks,” said one town employee, who did not want to be named. “When the level crossings were automated we were told the barriers would lower later and raise immediately once a train had passed through so there would be less waiting time.
“I can’t see that much has altered – you can still be waiting at a level crossing for about four minutes for a train to pass.
“Multiply that by the number of paths booked over those Saturdays and you’ve got a significant amount of barrier downtime and congestion.
“Spalding will best be totally avoided.”
However, Spalding town centre manager Dennis Hannant did not agree.
He said: “It will have an impact but it just means that people are going to have to allow more time for their journey.
“Maybe some people could leave the car at home and go into town on a bike, leaving the roads less busy for those who have to use vehicles.”
The planned track work is at Stoke Tunnel, near Grantham, and also between Newark and Retford. There are seven different jobs running across the five weekends.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The rail network is a vital part of our national economy and way of life.
“We are required by our licence to complete work with the minimum disruption to the network.
“This means we generally do work at night, at weekends and over public holidays. Where the complexity of the work means it cannot be completed between trains overnight, wherever possible, we will keep passengers on board trains by diverting them.
“Essential freight deliveries must also be protected to supply power stations and supermarkets as well as industry.”
News of the increased services will further frustrate some Spalding residents living near the line who say their homes shake when large freight trains pass.
What do you think about level crossing downtimes and homes shaking? Email [email protected]
