A DIRECT rail link between London and Barnsley is a realistic prospect, according to Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis, after a railway worker leaked information to him suggesting it could be achieved easily.
Mr Jarvis was tipped off by the industry insider that many trains arriving at Sheffield from London St Pancras have more than enough time to continue on to Barnsley, and back, before they set off back to London.
On occasions, his source said, trains have such a long delay before they have to set off on their return journey that they have to pull out of the station and wait before pulling back on to the platform.
“It appears these trains just sit and wait in a siding somewhere until it’s time to pull back into the station,” said the MP, who regularly travels between Barnsley and London by rail.
“There’s more than enough time for that train to come up to Barnsley and back.
“That would be instrumental in terms of driving our economy and in terms of our overall connectivity.”
Dan said he had already had positive conversations about the matter, including with the chairman of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Diana Terris, who is also chief executive of Barnsley Council.
“The licensing of the line between Sheffield and London is due to be renewed, and that provides us with a real opportunity to work this into any future contract.”
The Chronicle went to Sheffield railway station to observe the movements of trains arriving from London.
Last Thursday a train arrived from St Pancras at Sheffield’s platform seven at 8.27am, and once passengers had got off, it was locked up and left on the platform until passengers began boarding for the 9.49am service - a gap of one hour 22 minutes - more than enough time to travel to Barnsley and back.
Another service from London arrived on the adjacent platform eight and left again during that gap, and was waiting on the platform for 34 minutes.
It is understood that at busier times such trains have to pull out of the station and back in to free-up platform space for other services.
The current fastest journey time between Barnsley is 21 minutes, although that includes stopping at Meadowhall.
Dan said he believed not every train necessarily had to come to Barnsley, but from the information he had, a good number could, and should.
"Every sinew must be strained to upgrade our existing transport networks,” he said.
“In particular we should work to improve our existing rail links to neighbouring cities and towns. I know, both as a regular rail user and from countless conversations with constituents that improvements are required.
“Additionally we also need to focus effort on our road networks and look at ways in which we can ease congestion, both coming in to and out of the town, particularly during peak travel times.
“These improvements are fundamentally important to growing our local economy in Barnsley as well as for improving the lives of our local residents."
Leader of Barnsley Council Sir Steve Houghton welcomed Dan’s suggestions. He said: “We did used to have a direct train to London. Lord Mason managed to negotiate that when he was an MP.
“I think it would be hugely beneficial. The only caveat I would have is that it doesn’t have any impact on any service we already have. It must be additional to the rail service we already have.”
Diana Terris, chief executive of Barnsley Council and chairman of SYPTE, said: “The Sheffield City Region’s Transport Prospectus pushes for improved connectivity for all parts of the city region to London but also other major towns and cities in the north.
“Barnsley will explore all opportunities to improve the choice of services from Barnsley to London and any way forward would clearly have to be of benefit to Barnsley.
“This may include improvements as part of the wider HS2 investment, as well as the recent Midland Mainline franchise consultation.”
