Councillors bid to improve railway links
A CAMPAIGN to bring major improvements for the area's rail travellers has been launched.
Harrogate Borough Council will be asked tomorrow (Wednesday, March 3) to start lobbying transport chiefs to upgrade the railway between Harrogate and York.
A motion to the council condemns the line as antiquated and demands urgent investment to bring it up to scratch.
'crucial'
Coun John Savage, who is backing the motion, said: "I take this line regularly and investment is crucial. It is such an important line but if we are going to keep Harrogate on the map we need better train services.
"There is such a need for it and the feeling to make some progress with this is very strong in the town. This is very important for the town's economy and to allow us to compete in the Leeds City Region."
double track
The motion says automatic barriers and crossings need to be installed and signals need to be electrified. It also calls for double track to be reinstated so that trains can run more frequently than just once an hour.
The drive for improvements is proposed by Coun Martin Leather, who said a recent holiday in Wales left him appalled at the state of the trains in North Yorkshire.
Coun Leather says the improvements would benefit commuters and improve public transport links to the Harrogate Conference Centre which, he claims, is a major complaint of centre users.
'antiquated line'
He said: "The trains in Wales made me realise how antiquated the Harrogate Line is. We need urgent improvements.
"The line is terrible and there are so many people using it every day."
A Network Rail spokesman said: "We regularly carry out comprehensive studies into where investment is needed.
"The Yorkshire and Humber RUS (route utilisation strategy) was published on July 15, 2009. This study did not identify capacity needs on the York – Harrogate line. Network Rail does not have funding to carry out works such as those suggested on this line.
"However, we would be happy to discuss proposals from third parties who can identify alternative funding sources. "
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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