Underground station plan hits buffers

It is feared more trains will mean more traffic jams

A rail watchdog has dismissed a radical scheme to tackle traffic delays in Lincoln as too expensive.

A report published by the Rail Passengers Committee found a £200m proposal to put Lincoln's railway station underground is too costly.

Authorities are concerned a planned increase in rail freight will close a main road more often.

But a member of the city council has expressed disappointment with the report's conclusions.

(We) feel disappointment at the conclusions reached in the report

Ray Shardlow, Lincoln City Council

The idea to put the railway station below ground was originally suggested by the Lincoln Rail Working Group.

The group, led by the MP for Lincoln Gillian Merron, believed the plan would put an end to delays caused by traffic having to stop while trains passed though the city.

Railtrack is stepping up the amount of freight on trains going through Lincoln and it is claimed this could mean the level crossings will be down for up to 30 minutes in every hour.

Ray Shardlow is Lincoln City Council's Director of Environment and Community Services, and is also a member of the working group.

He is not happy with the report's findings.

He said: "I think we welcome the additional publicity that the problems of rail freight through the city gains as a result of the report but feel disappointment at the conclusions reached in the report."