These are the changes which could transform a rail service that 'lets Harrogate down' say campaigners
“All too often our rail services in the Harrogate area let us down and we think things could be so much better”
A Harrogate campaign group which says the town deserves better than a rail service that “lets us all down” is calling for the public to make its voice heard on the lack of night-time trains to Leeds and the need for electrification of the Harrogate line.
Founded in 2012 by the late Brian Dunsby to campaign for improvements to rail services on the York–Harrogate–Leeds railway line, Harrogate Line Supporters Group is asking the public to respond to current consultation on the Mayor's Local Transport Plan for York and North Yorkshire.
The plan is being developed by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to set out the long-term vision for improving transport across the region, helping people to travel more easily, safely and sustainably.
Phillip Holdsworth of Harrogate Line Supporters Group said: “All too often our rail services in the Harrogate area let us down.
“Yet we think things could be so much better, and have suggested some sensible, practical changes to achieve this.
“Many are modest proposals that could quickly deliver benefits for our area if the will was there.
“Ensuring these improvements are in the Local Transport Plan is a key first step, and we hope the public will support this through the consultation”.
Rail priorities for Harrogate
By Harrogate Line Supporters Group
Evening Services The most immediate change the Group wants to see is to have extra services in the evening seven days a week where our line drops to hourly after 20:36 from Leeds, unlike all other routes in the area.
They believe the trains are already available to provide these extra runs, and that the last service to Knaresborough should leave Leeds at least one hour later than the current last train, which is at only 21:36.
Extra track at York There’s also important modernisation work that has been halted which is essential for our railway line to be more reliable, with fewer cancellations and delays.
This includes improvements to the track layout north of York station on which work had started, but was cancelled to save money in 2024.
Extra London Trains They also want improvements to Harrogate’s direct London trains. Earlier this year we were given an extra train down to London, Monday to Saturday, but LNER couldn’t run an extra train northbound – they promised to do this when planned new trains arrive and the Group want to ensure this commitment is kept.
Since last December, Sunday London services were reduced by one each way, and HLSG want this cut to be reversed, and to have the first departure to London around 0835, two hours earlier than now.
Finally, they are calling for an extra earlier train to London in the morning at approx. 05:30 Monday to Saturday, to arrive in the capital around 08:30.
Resignalling The antiquated Victorian signalling between Harrogate and York was due to be replaced in 2017 but this never happened, and the ageing equipment contributes to delays on our line and also limits the provision of trains earlier and later in the day between Harrogate and York.
Leeds Bradford Airport Station The HLSG also want to see work started on the long-promised new station near Leeds Bradford Airport.
This was agreed, with detailed plans drawn up but the project has stalled.
The ability to easily reach the airport without using a car will be a big benefit for residents, but this needs to be done without reducing services at other stations on our line, as has been suggested.
Electrification Finally, electrification of our railway would result in faster, more reliable services which are also quieter and less polluting.
Our line was identified as a tier one priority in 2015, but we are still waiting patiently for anything to happen to deliver this benefit.
A draft version of the Mayor's Local Transport Plan for York and North Yorkshire has been published and is out now for public consultation, which closes on November 18.
Phillip Holdsworth said: The Mayor’s Local Transport Plan will help set the course for our rail services for decades to come, so the consultation is a great opportunity for the public to chip in with ideas for improvement.
“Harrogate Line Supporters Group hopes that the ideas they’ve put forward themselves will encourage others to contribute to the plan.”