Harrogate has most cancelled rail service in Britain

Since the introduction of new timetables in December last year, the 7.13am Northern Rail service from Harrogate to Leeds has been cancelled on 28 out of 55 days, according to ontimetrains.co.uk

Nationwide, Northern cancelled the most trains of any operator - more than 5,700 services were cancelled between December 15 and February 22, 2019.

The Harrogate Line Supporters Group said it hoped the Government's move to take over the running of Northern rail services would see an end to the old pacer trains and a better performance on punctuality on the Harrogate-Leeds-York line.

Brian Dunsby OBE said: “We need to see the promised new and refurbished rolling stock being used - Class 170 and Class 195 for a start - none of the old Pacers, and hopefully not many of the old 150 series either.

“The Harrogate Line also needs to see the improvements at Leeds City Station completed urgently so that we can start using Platform Zero as planned. But the most important achievement would be for consistency of performance across the whole region in accordance with the published timetables.”

Despite hopes of a new beginning with the stripping of the franchise from the failing Arriva Rail North, commuters are being warned not to expect major improvements to happen overnight.

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Robert Gisby, the new chair of Northern trains, has already promised passengers cleaner trains, with improved capacity and timetables.

But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has given the the new government-owned Operator of Last Resort (OLR), which took over on Sunday from Arriva Rail North, 100 days to come up with a plan to improve matters or, in other words, until at least the end of May before implementation of possible changes.

In such a scenario, local rail campaigners such as Dr Adrian Morgan, hoping for the reinstatement of the old Leeds-Harrogate-Ripon-Northallerton line may have a long wait despite the idea being met with some sympathy.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, a former rail minister himself, welcomed the Northern Rail franchise being brought into public ownership.

But Mr Jones stressed that priority had to be given to beleaguered passengers on the Harrogate line before turning to re-opening the Ripon line.

Mr Jones said: “I respect the enthusiasm and passion of those campaigning for re-opening a Harrogate to Ripon rail line.

“I support re-opening the line but while we are seeing huge issues with the local franchise and the reliability of services between Leeds and York I think it would be a dis-service to people who live, work and visit here to take our eyes off that ball.”

But Dr Morgan said re-opening the Ripon line could have side benefits for Harrogate.

He said: “Harrogate would have a much improved service by introducing through trains to destinations beyond Leeds or York, especially the north, and reduce peak time gridlock in Harrogate.”

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