Councillors urge rail improvement

The council's transport and telecommunications services overview and scrutiny committee believes better services between the two centres would ease overcrowding on the roads.

Representatives of the major rail companies were invited to the latest meeting of the committee.

But Network Rail, one of the companies which would be responsible for implementing any improvements to the York to Harrogate route, failed to attend.

"We are grateful to East Coast Mainline, Trans Pennine Express and Northern Rail, all of whom sent representatives to the meeting to give presentations on their services," said committee chairman Coun Cliff Trotter.

"But we are deeply disappointed that Network Rail were unable to send a representative, even with three months notice of the meeting.''

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said its planning team had regular meetings with the council. It was happy to discuss increasing services but was not aware of any train operator intending to do so.