Date set for Northampton & Lamport extension opening

REVENUE-EARNING TRAINS will return to Boughton on the Northampton & Lamport Railway on March 30, for the first time since the former Northampton-Market Harborough line closed to passengers in August 1973.

The NLR’s long-held aim of opening its half-mile southward extension to Boughton cleared the final regulatory hurdle on December 19, when the Department for Transport Secretary of State approved an amendment to its Light Railway Order allowing it to not only operate trains over the extension, but also a level crossing where the adjacent Brampton Valley Way footpath crosses the railway. NLR chairman Adam Giles described the news as “a nice early Christmas present from the DfT.”

There are still some jobs left outstanding before the extension can open as planned on March 30, including the fitting of the level crossing gates and signage – which are already in stock – and the installation of some platform lights at the line’s new Boughton station. “One of our directors died last year and his widow was keen to make a donation, so we thought we’d use the money to have some LNWR ‐style lamps made,” said Giles.

The extension’s signalling also needs to be tested and commissione