Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning everyone and welcome to the start of a new week with the Stray Ferret’s traffic and travel service.

Make sure to keep an eye on this blog throughout the morning.

If you spot anything, let me know on 01423 276197. Let’s help everyone have a smooth journey today.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

Roads

That is all from me this morning, I will be back from 6.30am tomorrow. The roads are getting more busy this morning as more people head out to work for the last week before Christmas. Here are the hot spots to look out for:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are getting more busy this morning as more people head out to work for the last week before Christmas. Here are the hot spots to look out for:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are getting more busy this morning as more people head out to work for the last week before Christmas.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running smoothly so far this morning, but keep checking back as things will likely get busier as the morning goes on.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running smoothly so far this morning, but keep checking back as things will likely get busier as the morning goes on.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running smoothly so far this morning, but keep checking back as things will likely get busier as the morning goes on.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Harrogate train station lift fixed after not working for two days

The lift on platform three at Harrogate train station was fixed today after being out of order for 48 hours.

Passengers were alerted to the fault on Tuesday morning, when the cause was said to be a power cut.

It meant that if they wanted to use the opposite platform, they either had to use the stairs — which is difficult for older people, people with buggies and wheelchair users — or leave the station and travel along the path to the other side of the station.

Rail operator Northern yesterday told the Stray Ferret the lift was due to be repaired later that day. It apologised for any inconvenience. But the lift only began functioning again this morning.

The engineer at the station told us he hoped the repairs would keep the lift running but added he would stay at the station for a few hours to ensure it didn’t break down again.

He also said cold weather and heavy usage of the lift can impact how well it works.

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Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Connor back with you this morning to update you with travel alerts to keep your journey moving.

I’ll let you know about roadworks, delayed trains and any traffic hotspots that could cause you delays.

If you spot anything, and it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197 and we can help other commuters too.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this morning, I am heading over to the news desk now. Hopefully you have found the blog helpful. I will be back from 6.30am tomorrow.

Roads

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Harrogate MP silent after saying scrapping HS2 would ‘betray the north’

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has so far remained silent on the expected scrapping of plans to extend the HS2 line from Birmingham to Leeds.

The former rail minister has been a vocal advocate of the project. In February 2019, he said that it would be a “betrayal of the north” if it did not go ahead.

However, government sources briefed national media outlets over the weekend about the decision ahead of an expected announcement on Thursday.

Just two months ago Mr Jones reiterated his support for HS2 at the annual Transport for the North conference in Leeds. He said:

“I hope that we do not see any compromise on our desire for big investment in our infrastructure. We have failed spectacularly to invest enough in our infrastructure.

“This has meant it is now too expensive and too difficult to move people and goods around the country. So I do not support the argument that we need to abandon longer term infrastructure investment.”

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At a previous Transport for the North conference in February 2019, Mr Jones went further and criticised media outlets for reporting speculation over the future of the HS2 Birmingham to Leeds line.

“We have all probably seen some media reports claiming that the northern stages of HS2 might not be built. They are nonsense.

“HS2 was conceived, developed and is now being delivered as a national railway. But in particular to improve links for our area.

“So our commitment to the full network of HS2 is undiminished. To cancel anything would be a betrayal of the north.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones for his thoughts this morning. However, he did not reply to our request for comment by the time of publication.

MP criticises government for not electrifying Harrogate rail line

The Labour MP for Leeds North West, Alex Sobel, has criticised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for not pledging to electrify the Leeds to York via Harrogate rail line in the Budget.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Sobel, who has long campaigned for the line to be electrified, said the Chancellor has missed a “golden opportunity” to “level up” communities in Leeds, Harrogate and York by funding an initiative that would create jobs.

He said:

“Unsurprisingly, my call to electrify the Leeds to Harrogate rail line, which has been announced twice and revoked twice by successive Conservative governments and which I would describe as a golden opportunity to level up communities up and down the line between Leeds and Harrogate and up to York, to get the city moving and get workers into jobs, was missing yet again.”

The campaign to electrify the line goes back a decade and previous efforts have been supported by both Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, and Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Andrew Jones.

Campaigners believe electrifying the route would allow 35% more trains to run on the line.

Simon Clarke, chief secretary to the Treasury, said during the same Commons debate:

“Over his first two Budgets, the Chancellor developed our plan to protect jobs and livelihoods and to safeguard the economy from coronavirus. In the words of the Office for Budget Responsibility, that plan has proven “remarkably successful”.”

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All Harrogate trains delayed due to fallen tree

Update: National Rail staff have now cleared the tree but there are still some delays on all Harrogate lines this afternoon.

All trains in the Harrogate area are facing delays and cancellations this afternoon after a tree fell in the Starbeck area.

National Rail said it first received reports of an incident at around 2.15pm and expects the disruption to continue until at least 4pm.

Staff from National Rail are on their way to remove the tree but it is unclear how easy the process will be at this time.

Those travelling between Leeds and York will be able to find another route through Micklefield but others may need to wait for road replacement services.

Rail replacement buses are in operation between Harrogate and York:

This is a breaking news story. We will update this page when we get more information. Have you been affected? Send an email to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel blog, it’s Connor with you today to help make your journey as smooth as possible.

Keep checking our blog every 30 minutes for full updates on the roads and public transport. I’ll let you know about any delays, traffic hotspots or roadworks.

You can get in touch if you spot anything, and it’s safe, on 01423 276197.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this week but my colleague Leah will be back with you for the final day of the working week from 6.30am.

Roads

Heavy congestion on Ripon Road at the gas line repairs close to the Co-op petrol station. Usual levels of traffic elsewhere in the district according to our system

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Heavy congestion on Wetherby Road between Forest Lane and Hookstone Chase. Also heavy congestion on Skipton Road between Dragon Road and the Empress roundabout.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with schools away for half term but there has been some disruption on the railway.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with schools away for half term but there has been some disruption on the railway.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Are you stuck in traffic or spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Al bringing you all the updates on the roads and rail this morning. There is heavy traffic on the A658 between Follifoot and Calcutt, following an accident earlier this morning, with the traffic building on nearby Wetherby Road.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media if you spot anything on the roads or your bus or train is delayed.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

Roads

The A658 is still very busy, with traffic also building past the showground on Wetherby Road.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8:30am – Full Update 

Roads

There are a number of areas looking busy this morning, especially around the A658.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

Things are starting to get busier on the roads this morning.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7:30am – Full Update 

Roads

There is heavy traffic on Skipton Road on the approach to the roundabout with Knaresborough Road.

Traffic is also moving slowly near Follifoot, on the A658 up to the roundabout with Wetherby Road.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

There’s heavy traffic on the A658 from Calcutt to Follifoot due to a minor accident. Traffic is moving slowly.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

It’s still early so as you’d expect, the roads are pretty quiet. There are a few hotspots that have caused issues this week though, so do plan ahead.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Harrogate district train station ticket machines hit by cyber attack

All Northern train station ticket machines, including at Harrogate and Knaresborough stations, are down after being subject to a suspected ransomware cyber-attack.

A ransomware attack occurs when malicious software is used to block access to a system until a ransom sum of money is paid.

The rail operator said no customer or payment data had been compromised and that customers could still buy tickets online.

There is no timescale for when the machines may be working again but Northern said it would try to fix the problem “as soon as possible”.

Read More: 

A spokesperson for Northern said:

“Last week we experienced technical difficulties with our self-service ticket machines, which meant all have had to be taken off-line.

“This is the subject of an ongoing investigation with our supplier, but indications are that the ticket machine service has been subject to a ransomware cyber-attack.

“Working with the supplier, we took swift action and the incident has only affected the servers which operate the ticket machines. Customer and payment data has not been compromised.

“We are working to restore normal operation to our ticket machines as soon as possible. We are sorry for any inconvenience this incident causes and, in the meantime, are advising customers to either use Northern’s mobile app or website to purchase tickets in advance and, where necessary, to collect those from one of our ticket offices. Of course, those offices can also be used to buy tickets.

“Customers who have already bought tickets to be collected at a machine, or who would normally use ‘promise to pay’ slips, should board their booked service and either speak to the conductor or to Northern staff at their destination station.”

Trains resume after tree blocks Harrogate to Leeds line

Train services between Harrogate and Leeds were disrupted this afternoon when a tree fell on the tracks.

Rail operator Northern tweeted this afternoon the fallen tree affected the Leeds to Knaresborough and Leeds to York via Harrogate services.

It then tweeted at 4.09pm that the line had re-opened. The National Rail service showed the 4.15pm Harrogate to Leeds was cancelled but the 4.46pm was scheduled to run, which was good news for anyone planning to get home after the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

Northern has now said services are back running as normal.

Visit here for the latest train times.

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