Plan to double Harrogate-York rail line services set to be signed off

North Yorkshire councillors will meet virtually on Tuesday to sign off the scheme which could see a twice-hourly service introduced in both directions of the railway line by May 2021.

Funds for the project were first secured in 2013 - but there were fears it could have been shelved.

North Yorkshire County Council thought it would require an almost full doubling of the track at a cost of more than £40million.

However, following an investigation with Network Rail, an affordable scheme was identified, involving limited track improvements and signalling upgrades.

Residents moved out of Harrogate district care home to free up beds for recovering coronavirus patients

The main improvement will involve upgrading the token block signalling to more modern technology.

Other improvement works will also allow faster speeds and more efficient use of a length of double track at Cattal.

A total of £9.6million of the scheme’s budget is being provided by York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership.

North Yorkshire County Council will use £3.4million in parking fines to pay for the rest.

David Bowe, the council's director of business and environmental services, has recommended a final approval of the funds ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

Updated: Upgrade works on the railway line could be completed by May 2021, not by the end of 2020 as previously reported, North Yorkshire County Council has confirmed.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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