Open Access could be an asset to local rail expansion projects in addition to regular service patterns?

In the current issue of Rail (2nd to April 16, 2025 page 8) an open access bid includes Nottingham Leicester Bedford to Oxford Bristol is discussed.

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/2025/03/25/two-new-open-access-cross-country-routes-set-to-be-submitted-to-rail-regulator

The railway reopening Northampton to Market Harborough (N2MH) would could bring the rail journey timings further by potentially 20-30 minutes, making your bid potentially even more attractive.

With the support of 2 local MP’s the BRTA is leading a campaign to complete an updated assessment on potentially reopening N2MH, which was only closed in 1982

https://brtarail.com/n2mh/

An incomplete 2020 Network Rail report concluded full reopening was possible and gave a Northampton to Leicester Journey time of 34 minutes (the present rail table is well over 100 minutes and 2 changes)

The BRTA website includes the redacted 2020 Network Rail report, as well as the recently proposed Northampton to Old Oak Common line proposed by England Economic Heartlands

If we could secure support for the N2MH report to be completed and updated that would be extremely helpful.

I would be very happy to discuss further.

We have a public meeting in Market Harborough on April 12th.

Spanner is Government's Great British Railways, will they cater and include Open Access on top of regular services or thwart it on ideological fit grounds? Jury is out, but lobbying is going on. If it can and can be given more credence in the wider regenerative scheme of things like being pegged or associated with a reopening, then that is for BRTA a positive, especially when noone else is taking the lead on reopenings generally? Bideford - GWR interested, Fawley, Open Access by First Group, so N2MH with whoever does Nottingham-Bristol/Old Oak Common, we have that chance too of adoption of projects like East-West Rail was and then they run with the ball.

Our MP's support should be made aware if SLC gives any support and asked to support their proposal as GBR goes through Parliament to have clauses like "if pegged to a reopening, resulting in network expansion, should be given favourable consideration in addition and above local services".

1. Check: https://brtarail.com/events/

2. Join BRTA: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

3. Email your local MP and ask for their support/forward to BRT responses: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

4. See: https://harboroughfm.co.uk/new-campaign-to-restore-rail-link/