AN 84-YEAR-OLD man from Grimsby says scrapping the train link between Cleethorpes and Manchester would be "a right pain in the backside".
Philip Dixon, of Barry Avenue, regularly uses the service to meet up with his friends from St Helens.
He also took advantage of the direct link into Manchester Airport several times a year with his late wife for their holidays.
He said: "I don't use the service to the airport as much as I used to, but I still go to Manchester to meet up with friends from St Helens.
"So it would be a right pain in the backside if they got rid of it. I'd have to change and it would be a right nuisance.
"My friends, quite rightly, don't let me use the car anymore so the train is my only option really.
"I tend to use it about six times a year now but, as I said, I used it all the time when my wife was around.
"It's a brilliant service, especially to the airport – it goes straight into the terminal.
"I'd still go and see my friends but this would be a major inconvenience. I don't walk so well nowadays either, so I don't want to be messing around walking up and down stairs."
MPs Martin Vickers and Austin Mitchell, North East Lincolnshire Council, various local traders and more than 3,300 of you who have signed our petition are backing our campaign to keep the service.
As reported, the Department for Transport (DfT) began a consultation last week on the Northern and TransPennine franchises, as ministers consider how best to use £1 billion of investment across the network.
The government is examining the option of terminating the TransPennine Express service from Manchester at Doncaster with a replacement Sheffield to Cleethorpes service, which could stop at Doncaster, being operated by Northern Rail, possibly as an extension of the existing hourly Northern Sheffield to Scunthorpe service.
The proposals are part of what Rail Minister Stephen Hammond, who is soon set to visit the borough, describes as a "huge opportunity" to create a railway system fit for the 21st century.
The Grimsby Telegraph launched a campaign last week to get the public behind the local politicians in derailing this plan.
But we only have until August 18, when the consultation ends, to make our voices heard.
We pledge to send any petitions, coupons and letters on your behalf to the government and those carrying out the consultation.
ON THE WEB: Sign the petition online at www.grimsbytelegraph.co. uk/keepontrack
