Early morning train from Harrogate to Leeds cancelled

Northern is to cancel the 6.07am train service from Harrogate to Leeds due to declining passenger numbers since the pandemic began.

The 6.07am, which is the first service of the day, arrives at Leeds Station at 6.44am. It is also used by business travellers to get to London King’s Cross before 9am.

The change will come into effect from May 15.

A Northern/LNER service, which goes to London via York and leaves Harrogate at 6.41am and arrives at King’s Cross at 9.36am, will remain on the timetable.

There is a direct LNER train from Harrogate to London at 7.36am but it doesn’t arrive in the capital until 10.32am.

LNER has delayed plans to introduce an earlier direct service that leaves Harrogate at 6.35am due to rolling stock issues.

‘We need it’

With the 6.07am service withdrawn, it means the earliest Harrogate commuters will be able to get into Leeds by train from Monday to Friday will be the 6.56 train, which arrives at 7.28am.

Brian Dunsby, of Harrogate Line Supporters Group, said passenger numbers were back to around 80% of pre-pandemic levels and the early service was needed by commuters.

He called the move by Northern ‘disgraceful’ and urged the state-owned operator to reconsider.

He said:

“The service is particularly important for anyone going down to London for a 9am start.

“They could cancel the 6.56am or the 7.14am instead. That 6.07 is very important. It’s the first train of the day and we need it.”

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A spokesperson for Northern said:

“We fully understand the concerns of those using our trains in West Yorkshire and we are doing all we can to provide the best possible service for our customers who are very much at the heart of everything we do.”

“We’re seeing fewer commuters travelling each day, and people travelling at different times of the week and for different reasons. We’ve made decisions about our timetables based on the levels of resource we have available and prioritising the routes with the highest customer demand, and which support the region’s economic growth.

“The timetables currently in place will broadly continue with some amendments from May 2022 and into the summer.”

Ripon company supplies gritters for London’s roads

A Ripon company is set to supply gritters to keep London’s roads safe during winter.

For the next seven years, 33 Econ Engineering vehicles will be located at different points in London ready to mobilise when temperatures plummet.

Econ, which has its main manufacturing base in Ripon, has been negotiating with three companies that have been awarded contracts to keep the capital’s roads ice and snow free.

Ringways, Tarmac and Kier Joint Venture and FM Conway were all awarded contracts by Transport for London to maintain the capital’s roads.

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All three companies have turned to Econ to purchase vehicles for winter maintenance.

Ringways has purchased 11 gritters, Tarmac and Kier joint Venture 13 and FM Conway has bought nine from Econ.

Jonathan Lupton, from Econ, said: 

“We are delighted to have been chosen by all three TfL contractors as their winter maintenance vehicle partner of choice.

“This is a significant contract award for us and demonstrates our standing within the highways and transports sector.

“For more than 50 years, Econ has become an industry leader in the manufacturing of gritters, and our vehicles are used by councils, highways agencies, and road contractors the length and breadth of the UK.”

TfL said in a statement:

“For the next seven years the three contractors will be ensuring our roads are kept open whatever the weather conditions. And for their part, they have chosen Econ Engineering to supply them with the necessary vehicles to ensure they fulfil their contractual obligations.”

Improved Harrogate to London train service delayed

Concerns over infrastructure and rolling stock have delayed the introduction of improved direct train services between Harrogate and London.

A new timetable, with an earlier direct service to London King’s Cross, was due to be implemented in May 2022.

The shake-up was announced by LNER in June last year as part of wider changes to services on the east coast main line.

LNER said times between Harrogate and London would be about 10 minutes faster as part of the new timetable, which included:

In the opposite direction, from London direct to Harrogate:

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However, the improved services will now not be introduced after Network Rail recommended that the Department for Transport, which has the final decision on the timetable, delays the implementation.

The organisation said it had “concerns around infrastructure, rolling stock and performance and stakeholder feedback” with the changes.

Simon Leyshon, industry programme director for Network Rail’s east coast route, said it hoped to implement the changes as soon as possible.

He said:

“Postponing the new timetable change for the east coast main line allows us to dedicate more time to considering the views passengers and stakeholders shared with us during the consultation process last year.

“We’re now working closely with train operating companies and the wider rail industry to develop a timetable that meets passenger’s changing travel patterns and makes the most of the increased capacity on the East Coast main line following the £1.2 billion East Coast upgrade.”

Network Rail also pointed out that Harrogate had already seen an additional Northern service introduced on the Leeds to York line in December 2021.

Harrogate district MPs silent on Downing Steet Xmas party allegations

All three MPs representing the Harrogate district have declined to answer questions from the Stray Ferret about the alleged parties held at 10 Downing Street and in Whitehall last year.

We asked Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, and Nigel Adams, who represents Selby and Ainsty, what they knew about the parties and what reaction they had received on the matter from constituents.

As usual, the three Conservative MPs did not respond.

However, Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, who lives in Ripon, did speak out today.

He tweeted:

“Ministers now looking foolish defending PM.

“Why did Allegra Stratton feel she had to go if nothing happened at No 10?

“Setting up narrow enquiry into Downing Street party purely designed to buy time, fools no-one.”

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It was revealed today that civil servants will launch an official investigation into the alleged parties.

There has been considerable coverage of the issue since the Daily Mirror claimed on November 30 that the Prime Minister and his staff broke coronavirus rules by attending parties at Number 10 in the run-up to last Christmas.

That report said 40 to 50 people attended a party on December 18, when London was in tier three lockdown restrictions.

Under those restrictions indoor mixing was banned and thousands has to spend Christmas away from their families.

New Christmas express train from London to Harrogate

A Christmas express train is to operate from London to Harrogate this year to attract people to the town’s new festive market.

Tourism organisation Visit Harrogate has partnered with rail company LNER to set up the service for the new Christmas Fayre on Friday, December 10.

The first class service will depart King’s Cross at 9.33am and arrive in Harrogate just under three hours later. Tickets cost £140 and include a goodie bag of Harrogate treats. It will cost £100 from Stevenage and £80 from Grantham.

Passengers can spend one or two days in Harrogate.

A giant inflatable snow globe is being installed at King’s Cross station today and tomorrow, offering people the chance to have selfies taken inside a winter wonderland scene, while learning more about the special event.

Visit Harrogate is planning the biggest Christmas campaign in its history after covid ruined last year’s festivities.

Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“We are delighted to be working with LNER to bring more visitors to Harrogate for a festive break. Overnight visitors spend money in our hotels, restaurants, shops and visitors attractions – which is exactly what our local businesses need after a difficult year.

“The direct service from London is a real asset to our visitor economy, so we’re committed to working closely with LNER in the lead up to Christmas and beyond to ensure potential visitors from the south east know just how easy it is to reach us.”

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Harrogate Borough Council and Visit Harrogate are planning to work with LNER on a regular basis to attract visitors from London throughout the year.

Kate McFerran, director of communications at LNER said:

“We are excited to announce that Harrogate will be the destination for our very first Christmas market event. It’s such a stunning location for a weekend visit, offering something for all the family and it promises to be especially magical this Christmas.”

Harrogate’s Christmas offering

Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which is being jointly staged by the council and Market Place Europe, will take place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent from December 3 to 12.

It will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.

About 50 traders will take part in the fayre.

In addition, Little Bird Made is set to hold a festive artisan market in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December, with times to be confirmed.

The artisan market will feature approximately 60 local and regional traders and producers who will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.