First London-Harrogate train

Following the long community campaign the new evening London to Harrogate train service has now started. There has been a direct morning service to London for some time but not a direct return service in the evening.

The first service ran on Monday 23 May. The train was waved off at Kings Cross by campaigners Andrew Jones MP and Brian Dunsby from Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce. A civic reception welcomed the train on arrival at Harrogate Railway Station.

The service will run each weekday evening, leaving London Kings Cross at 17.33 and arriving at Harrogate at 20.29. There will also be a service running on Saturday evenings leaving Kings Cross at 17.35 which arrives in Harrogate at 20.29 and a service on Sundays which leaves Kings Cross at 18.05 and gets in to Harrogate at 21.07.

Andrew Jones MP said, "The new direct East Coast Main Lane service is great news for business and commerce in Harrogate. Improved transport links with the capital mean more convenient journeys for business people and tourists. Our town's economic development relies on good transport links and it was great working with others such as the Chamber of Trade and East Coast Main Line to be able to make this new service a reality."

Andrew is now working with the Chamber of Trade and East Coast Main Line to get a service from London in the morning and back to London in the evening.