A new analysis of Lincoln’s rail network outlines where service improvements are progressing and where gaps still threaten the area’s long-term economic growth.
The report, produced by Transport for the East Midlands and the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, shows rail demand in the city has continued to rise. National usage fell between 2019 and 2024, yet Lincoln Station recorded an increase of nearly 5 per cent, reaching more than two million journeys a year.
Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of TfEM, said: “Lincoln is growing at a pace unmatched by its transport network. The new timetable will be a major step forward, but unless it’s safeguarded and built upon, the city risks slipping backwards again. This report makes a clear, evidence-based case for sustained investment in one of the East Midlands’ most important rail corridors.”
Service changes planned for December 2025 include doubling the number of trains between Lincoln and Nottingham. The analysis notes earlier improvements to the London route, where the introduction of six daily direct services increased demand for travel to the capital.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns DBE, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, said: “The new Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority is committed to working with the rail industry to improve rail services across the area. For Lincoln, rail services need to be more frequent and attractive to tourists, visitors and businesses alike.”
The report identifies risks that may undermine recent progress. A direct Sunday link to London is scheduled to be withdrawn in December 2025. Capacity pressures on the East Coast Main Line could weaken long-term connectivity. Planned enhancements, including signalling upgrades and improvements to slow sections of track, have been postponed.
The study highlights the Newark Flat Crossing as a major constraint on east–west movement and a barrier to more frequent, reliable services. It concludes that sustained investment will be required to secure rail capacity that keeps pace with population growth and business demand across Greater Lincolnshire.
