Lincoln by LNER

I have been waiting all my life for this level of service

(Still not perfect, but very useable and very pleasant)

I had another trip to make to Lincoln, and as I had some say in the time of the meeting I was able to ensure that it would be both convenient for rail travel and that the day could proceed at a reasonably leisurely pace as befits my status as a retired person! Better still, I could choose my travel times in the hope that I’d be using LNER’s “Azuma” inter-city trains in both directions between Peterborough and Lincoln, with reasonable connections from and to my home in Stamford at both ends of the day. It worked like a dream …

I took the 09:03 from Stamford on a lovely sunny morning, really looking forward to a good trip. By way of a bonus, the train was one of Cross Country’s recently refurbished Turbostar units (this one in Pride livery), of which I think they only have two so far. Even more comfortable! It was on time and although busy was not too busy and it was easy to find a seat. At Peterborough the northbound main line trains leave from platforms 4 or 5 where there is a handy café and I bought coffee there, but the weather being so splendid I drank it outside on the platform while I waited for my train to Lincoln which was again on time, a few minutes later. On board in standard class I plugged in my computer and did the final preparation for my meeting. LNER trains to and from Lincoln are normally five-coach sets and for some reason always stop at the forward end of the platform, the north end going north. Five coaches is plenty for this service and I had a large table to myself for my work. 

Things started to feel wrong as the train slowed down at Tallington and didn’t really get going again. Eventually the train stopped at the Train Manager announced that a train ahead of us had broken down at Grantham and that we were fifth in a queue behind it - the line is only double track there and overtaking is not really an option. The upside of being fifth, though, is that the broken-down train was well on the way to being moved by the time my train actually stopped, so quite soon after that we drew into Grantham station about twenty minutes down. Once away from Grantham we were back to normal, although we never made up more than a minute or two of the lost time. At Newark Northgate the pantograph was lowered and the diesel engines under the floor were started in order to take the train on to Lincoln on the unelectrified line, which is also considerably slower than the East Coast Main Line, although there were no more stops. The Cathedral appears on the right hand side of the train on approach to the city and then swings around to the left as the train turns to make the approach into Lincoln station.

Even though the train was delayed, I had plenty of time in hand and made my way over to Lincoln Bus Station to take a bus up the hill - if I am very short of time I take a taxi, but at my age buses are free of charge in England so I use them when I can (they're cheaper than taxis for anyone travelling alone or in pairs anyway). I had plenty of time to prepare for my meeting, which went very well and very swiftly so it was clear that I would indeed be able to get my planned LNER train back to Peterborough for a decent connection home to Stamford.

I walked back down the hill to the station, always good to do. A lovely afternoon with my scarf packed away. It felt very much like Spring, considering that we were still in February. At Lincoln station I bought some lunch from the Costa Coffee Shop: I had been going to eat this at a table in the café but my train was already at the platform with its doors unlocked, so I made my over to the platform, found a table and ate the lunch in comfort there while I waited for departure. 

The journey back was without incident and after writing up the notes of the meeting and sending them out to the others I was on time at Peterborough, where there was a short wait, sitting outside in the warm sunshine, before taking the on-time train to Stamford.

It had been, as I had hoped, a lovely day for travel. I had got some work done, I did some gazing out at the passing scenery and I had enough exercise walking through Stamford and down through Lincoln even though I needed to ride up the hill in Lincoln. Anyone who thinks Lincolnshire is flat has never been to Lincoln (or Grantham, or Stamford, come to that)! And if you've never been to Lincoln you are missing a lot: a castle, one of the world's best cathedrals, some good shopping and some great bars and restaurants. And, as you see, it's easier than ever now together there by train. East Midlands Railway runs hourly services from Nottingham and through the county of Lincolnshire from Peterborough, and LNER run five or six times a day from London on the route I use for this trip.