Holiday makers have told of their frustration and called for East Midlands Railway to expand their capacity on trains travelling to a popular seaside spot. It comes after the train operator issued guidance for people looking to travel to Skegness this summer.
The seaside town is a popular spot for families who want to enjoy the beach during the summer season. But there is some frustration among passengers over the lack of capacity.
EMR is encouraging travellers to book tickets in advance to guarantee a space to or from Skegness this year, between July 9 and September 9. For those who haven’t pre-booked their tickets, this means they may have to wait for the next available train.
Leave your messages of condolence for the three people who lost their lives in the tragic Nottingham attacks here.
Passengers are also advised to bring only one bag per person "as space is limited on trains", said EMR. "We are encouraging you to book your tickets in advance to guarantee a space on the return part of your journey too", added the train operator.
But Alan Stanley, a dad of two from Watnall, said EMR's guidance made him change his mind about stepping foot on the train this summer. Mr Stanley, 53, said he was a regular on the train in the summer, and used to go on a day out with the family.
He said that while EMR has identified the problem of trains being overcrowded, their new system is "not going to fix it". Mr Stanley added: "Come holidays, someone is going to say that they are going to Skeggy today, they will go down there with their children, and be told that they have not booked in advance.
"There will be a queue there to the train every hour and you might get on the train at 2pm. It is not going to work."
He added: "They say that travelling to Skegness this year is going to be different. It is going to be different because you will be travelling like a sardine.
"It is ridiculous. The way I read it is - do not go on trains."
Daniel Griff, from Newark, said he will drive to Skegness instead to avoid the busy trains. "There used to be around nine carriages before and now they have dropped it to two or three", he added.
"There is a demand and I can see why there would be an issue. But it is way easier to travel by car."
The 26 year old added: "We are planning to go Skegness in the next couple of weeks, but I am not getting on the train."
Emma Devine, a mum of one from Strelley, said she was planning to go to Skegness in August with her sister, who also has two children. "It does concern me because I am going with my sister and her children.
"There will be three children in total with us. The limited luggage is also a problem.
"That would be a struggle", said the 35 year old. "They should have more carriages. They should expand it.
"The weather carries on getting hotter and the trains are not going to be good for people's health."
Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director at East Midlands Railway, said: "Skegness remains a very popular destination for holidaymakers and this year will be no different.
"We want our customer's holiday to start as smoothly as possible and that's where booking a place beforehand comes in. Booking ahead allows them to have peace of mind and guarantees a place on board."
