Plans to extend Barnsley station’s platforms could pave the way for direct London trains to return for the first time since 2008.

The town lost its direct link to the capital almost 20 years ago, but the scheme has appeared in South Yorkshire transport plans with the stated aim of enabling an “experimental train to London”.

The proposed extensions are pencilled in for April 2028 to March 2029, but passengers will have to wait for details of what any service might look like.

The papers do not name a train operator, explain what “experimental” means or give a date for services to begin.

The town lost its direct link to the capital almost 20 years ago, but the scheme has appeared in South Yorkshire transport plans with the stated aim of enabling an “experimental train to London”.

placeholder image — The town lost its direct link to the capital almost 20 years ago, but the scheme has appeared in South Yorkshire transport plans with the stated aim of enabling an “experimental train to London”.

The scheme is listed in a proposed investment programme drawn up under South Yorkshire’s £1.455bn Transport for City Regions funding settlement.

Papers prepared for the mayoral combined authority’s October 27 board meeting describe the work as “improvements to the station platform to enable the experimental train to London”.

Its inclusion is a step towards a possible return, rather than a promise of London trains.

The wider programme contains more projects than the available funding can cover, and individual schemes still need further development and approval.