Member Article

Leeds-Harrogate-York rail line to be revitalised as train firms battle it out for franchise

Three train companies are battling it out to win a contract to improve services on the Leeds-Harrogate-York line.

Harrogate Borough Council has this week met with the three train companies bidding to run the Northern Rail franchise and to lobby for improved services.

Over the 11 years of the Northern Rail franchise, passenger numbers have increased by 50% but little investment has been made to accommodate such a large growth in passengers according to the council.

Abellio Northern, Arriva Rail North and Govia Northern are competing for the new franchise which is due to start in February 2016.

With specification for the franchise due from the Department of Transport imminently, Harrogate Borough Council has expressed its ambitions for the rail line, with the hope that they will be incorporated into each of the train company’s submissions.

Harrogate Borough Council’s proposals include increasing weekday train frequency to four trains per hour between Harrogate and Leeds, and two trains per hour between Harrogate and York., earlier weekday services to ensure business and leisure travellers can arrive in London before 9.00am.

They also want better links with Manchester Airport and Manchester city centre, as well as Yorkshire cities and introducing new electric trains upon the completion of the potential electrification scheme, and wifi on all services. Ensuring trains are three car length as standard and greater capacity at peak times.

The three franchise bidders have already met with the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce and a selection of local business representatives to gain their views on how the rail service can be developed to encourage business travel.

Rebecca Burnett, Harrogate Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport said: “We have ambitious plans for the Harrogate district’s economy and ensuring that we have a good quality rail service is necessary for us to achieve these aims.

“We hope that the bidders will incorporate our ambitions into their proposals, so that a rail service can be developed which will meet the expectations of both residents and visitors.

“We need to create a service on the Harrogate line which is suitable for business use, with quick, comfortable, clean, modern trains that are easy to communicate and work from. The number of services running through the day needs to be increased and we need to ensure there are suitably early and late trains available.

“Stations need to be clean, well maintained, equipped with high levels of information and good ticket buying opportunities – whether staffed or not, and have suitable provision for shelter.

“We have high hopes for our railway line. Significant progress has been made in producing a business case for its electrification, and also to fund dual tracking of a section of the rail line as a precursor to electrification. By incorporating our ambitions for the rail line, the winning bidder will make travelling by train in our district an even more attractive proposition.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .