Skegness could be set to benefit from a major investment by East Midlands Railway, with the train operator spending £23m on improving the Grantham line from Nottingham, as well as upgrading its Class 170 fleet.

The first of the new trains was unveiled by Derby South MP, the gloriously named Baggy Shanker, at an event at Derby station on 15 April, with the new facilities expected to increase footfall to the Lincolnshire coast.

“This refurbishment is more than just a lick of paint, it’s a complete transformation that puts our customers first,” said East Midlands Railway MD Will Rogers.

“We’ve focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it’s just the beginning. Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network.”

The improvements come as Skegness benefits from the construction of a new Travelodge, as well as the ongoing renovation of the Embassy Theatre, with local performer Justin Tai telling the Metro the town is ready for more visitors.

“Skegness definitely needs a lot more trains bringing people in, and the train station is quite small, so we definitely want more people coming in,” said Tai. 

“A lot of the accommodation needs to be a bit better. There are some lovely places, the Savoy is very nice, but I think we need nice places for people to stay in.”