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Thursday 3 Dec 2009

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR LINCOLN CHRISTMAS MARKET

Region & Route:

Network Rail has helped arrange extra train services including two steam trains and the Orient Express to Lincoln’s hugely popular Christmas Market.

Hundreds of extra visitors will make their way to Lincoln from London, Manchester, Leicester, Nottingham and Scotland, for the four day event, on eight additional train services added especially for the Christmas Market. Train capacity will be further increased thanks to the addition of extra carriages on normal routes and four extra services will run from Paddington to Lincoln.

Lincoln’s Christmas Market (3^rd to 6^th December) brings around £10 million into the local economy and attracts around 160,000 visitors each year; hotels and guest houses across the city are already nearly at capacity. There are a variety of ways to travel to the market, including a park and ride service from Lincolnshire Showground, but the expansion of the train service will provide even more extra routes into the city for visitors.

Councillor Darren Grice, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, which organises the market said: “We are delighted to have these extra services added especially for the Christmas Market. This emphasises the market’s popularity and the confidence that train companies have that they can sell out trains from across the country. The sight of the steam trains arriving into Lincoln station will add to the traditional Christmas atmosphere we are already trying to generate.”

Richard Lungmuss, Network Rail route director, who organised the paths for the trains said:

Lincoln Central Station Manager Simon Kendall said: “The Lincoln Christmas Market is a significant event for East Midlands Trains and one that we have supported for many years. We are pleased to have worked closely with City of Lincoln Council again to develop a plan to make sure we provide as many seats as possible for the thousands of people visiting the market this year.”

Details of the extra trains for the Lincoln Christmas Market are as follows:

Thursday 3^rd December 2009 (STEAM TRAIN)

Steam Dreams (WCR) from King’s Cross, Loco 60019 Bittern + POB + 12 coaches

Arrive Lincoln 14:30, depart via Newark 17:45

Friday 4^th December 2009

Rail Blue from Manchester Piccadilly, Class 47 x 2 + 12 coaches

Arrival Lincoln via Gainsborough 1135, departs to Manchester Piccadilly 17:35

SRPS / DB Schenker from Linlithgow, Class 67 + 11 coaches

Arrive Lincoln via Gainsborough 11:50, departs to King’s Cross via Newark 16:12

Orient Express / DB Schenker from London Victoria, Class 67 + 12 coaches

Arrive Lincoln via Spalding 12:30, departs to London Victoria via Spalding 16:33

Additional Services - HST (8 cars)

12:47 arrival from St Pancras, departs to Nottingham 13:00

15:16 arrival from Nottingham, departs to Nottingham 15:42

17:55 arrival from Nottingham, departs to St Pancras 18:27

Saturday 5^th December 2009

UK Railtours / DB Schenker from Woking Class 67 + 12 coaches

Arrive Lincoln via Gainsborough 11:08, depart to Woking via Newark 16:17

Compass Tours / DB Schenker from Holyhead Class 47 x 2 + 13 coaches

Arrive Lincoln via Gainsborough 11:35, departs to Holyhead via Gainsborough 15:50

Additional Services

Meridian (5 cars) arrive 10:15 from St Pancras, depart Nottingham 10:56

HST (8 cars) arrive 12:01 from St Pancras, depart Nottingham 12:14

HST (8 cars) arrive 14:26, depart Nottingham 15:03

HST (8 cars) arrive 16:56, depart St Pancras 17:28

Sunday 6^th December 2009 (STEAM TRAIN)

Railway Touring Company / Pacific’ A4 No. 60007‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ from London Kings Cross + 11 coaches

Arrive Lincoln 13:15 from London Kings Cross

Departs 17:15 to London Kings Cross