YOU helped save Cleethorpes to Manchester direct rail services: Transport Secretary credits Telegraph Keep On Track campaign in announcement to House of Commons

"MY honourable friend (Martin Vickers), along with the Grimsby and Scunthorpe Telegraphs, has led a very interesting campaign to retain direct rail services between Cleethorpes and Manchester Airport, and I am very pleased to announce today that it has been successful."

The words of Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin after more than 6,000 of our readers helped us WIN victory. He was speaking in the House of Commons and on live television at around 9.45am yesterday, and his announcement was greeted with delight by politicians, businesses and local residents alike.

And today we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who supported our successful Keep It On Track campaign to save the vital service.

Among those who signed our petition was 91-year-old Cleethorpes resident Mary Smith, who relies on the direct service to fly to Jersey to see her daughter.

She said the news had "made her Christmas."

Another was Brian George, 70, who is awaiting surgery on his leg, and uses the train to get to and from hospitals in Sheffield.

He said: "It's brilliant. Excellent news."

As previously reported, the Government had proposed scrapping the through service, with trains from Manchester terminating at Doncaster, where passengers would have to change to continue to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

But more than 6,000 of you signed our petition against the plan, which was presented to Mr McLoughlin back in July.

Meanwhile MPs of all parties, council leaders and business groups have lobbied tirelessly for the vital service to be retained.

And yesterday those efforts paid off when, in response to a question by Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, the Transport Secretary announced that direct services between Cleethorpes and Manchester Airport would be included in the new South Transpennine Express franchise.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Vickers said: "It's great news and I am delighted that our efforts over the last few months have paid off. The area needs direct services to major cities and to have lost this one would have been a major blow to local people and businesses.

Mr Vickers, who invited rail minister Claire Perry to the area in October and organised for a delegation of council bosses and business leaders to give evidence to the Transport Select Committee, added: "My colleagues and I have kept the pressure on by repeatedly stressing to ministers the importance of road and rail connections to this area."

Praising the role of the Grimsby Telegraph and its readers, he said: "Consultations come and go all the time, but it is clear that the public's response, thanks to Telegraph's efforts in publicising the issue, have had an impact."

Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell said: "I'm delighted. It shows that government listens. We have made strong representations over a long period and it has worked. I'm pleased they have retained the through service but there are still questions about replacement rolling stock for the trains which are being taken away and given to Chiltern Railways."

Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, hailed the announcement as a great success for local co-operation.

He said: "It just shows that by working together as one, the council, communities, local businesses and organisations can really make a difference.

"We've come together on an issue that affects thousands of people in North East Lincolnshire – and made our voice heard.

"Maintaining the direct Transpennine Express service is vital for the area's tourism and investment future. The potential impact of loss of service would have been massive, not just for North East Lincolnshire, but for the whole of the south bank."

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