Bid made for rail link to London
RAIL campaigners in Harrogate have submitted their final proposals for improved services between the town and London, aiming for a two-hourly service each way by 2016.
They are also confident of securing improvements to the local line, after operator Northern Rail suggested journeys from Harrogate to Leeds could take less than half an hour for the first time from 2012.
The developments follow months of behind-the-scenes work by the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the borough council, leading to a series of meetings with Government representatives and rail companies.
In their report to the Department of Transport, Why Harrogate Trains?, the chamber is now requesting the reintroduction of a direct, daily return service from London King's Cross to Harrogate by the end of next year.
This would be increased to two direct trains each way by 2013, followed by a two-hourly service each way within the next four to six years.
Brian Dunsby, chief executive of the chamber, said: "The primary aim is to increase the number of visitors, whilst reducing the numbers of cars.
"We want to make it easier for businesses and leisure visitors from London and the east coast to get to Harrogate in one leap, without having to change trains at Leeds or York, which puts them off.
"What we have proposed is financially and technically viable, it just requires the political will."
The scheme is being backed by the borough and county councils, as well as Welcome to Yorkshire.
Last Thursday, campaigners met with Northern Rail to discuss the future of the local line and were told planned improvements to signalling and alterations to the service, which may no longer call at Burley Park or Headingley, the two stops just before Leeds, could shave up to seven minutes off journey times, reducing them to 27 minutes.
Trains could ultimately run every 20 minutes, rather than twice hourly.
For the full story, see this week's Harrogate Advertiser.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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