Hear about hopes to build shuttle train park-and-ride at Northampton transport meeting this weekend

A meeting to learn more about a transport group's hopes for a 'shuttle train' in Northampton as well as work to link the town back up with Bedford by rail will be held this weekend.

The English Rail Transport Association have made headlines in Northampton in the last six months by sharing their vision for the town's train links.

It includes a concept to build a shuttle train out of the town to Brackmills on a disused railway line to create a park-and-ride service for the town centre.

They also think the town is in a position to reconnect with Bedford by train and get in on a multi-million pound government plan to link Oxford and Cambridge.

Now, the association is inviting the public to attend a forum this weekend to hear about their plans and what needs to be done.

The ERTA will meet at Northampton Quaker Meeting House, Wellington Street, off Abington Street, between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday (February 22).

The agenda includes how to create the shuttle link to Great Houghton through Brackmills, approaching the council to discuss the Northampton-Bedford link, and an ongoing plan to link Northampton and Market Harborough.

Speaking in November, chairman Richard Pill told the Chronicle & Echo: "With the heavy traffic that affects Northampton so often, [both plans] really could give people so many more options.

"With the creation of a park-and-ride parking lot, people could even park outside of town and shuttle into the town centre of the line and take the pressure off of the urban area.

""At the very least, they could commission a study to see if reopening the railway line would be commercially viable."

For more information visit the ERTA website.