BRTA Market Harborough Public Meeting Reflections and Musings 12-04-25

Northampton could be central to a new and emergent north-south railway linking Leicester/Gateway for the East Midlands to Old Oak Common Station with links to HS2, Elizabethan Line and Heathrow for example and if BRTA gets its way, Guildford and beyond and vice versa.

The BRTA Market Harborough Public meeting courted just 9 people! A video advocating the reopening of Northampton-Market Harborough rail link was shown followed by a talk by Professor Andrew N. Williams on it and the wider merits, history, case and emergent dynamics.

BRTA organises meetings like this to bring people together, rally support for our causes and build through membership and donations the resource base to do more and better. It is a real challenge between people using what railways we have and getting reopenings/new-builds and bridging that gap also, getting people to turn out on a Saturday afternoon to show support, give the beef and enable the proper resources we need through giving and volunteering to take things forward. 

It is not the case ‘things can only get better’, but ‘things must get better' if we are to realise our goals. The association needs YOU!

It should not be down to us in any case, but our elected representatives showing leadership, working with councils of all tiers, agencies and central government to see the case for growth underscored by sustainable public transport at its heart and this rail link among others as critical green infrastructure for people and goods off congested roads. If a can't, won't and don't culture prevails, we lack a joined-up-ness which is detrimental to goals and public/environmental well-being as people and nation goes about its business. BRTA sees the gaps and calls for 'common sense' to prevail! Email your MP and demand support for Northampton-Market Harborough rail link: https://brtarail.com/n2mh/ and https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

Meanwhile is there a case for agencies like England's Economic Heartlands (EEH) to be made more democratic and/or merged with local or regional councils to put the public more in the driving seat and focus minds on what is needed rather than political correctness, populism or tinkering around proverbial 'elephants in the room'?