Commuters are set to benefit from extra train services on the York to Scarborough line after David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, secured Government backing.
TransPennine Express currently operates one service per hour on the line, but from December 2028 there will two additional services in the morning and evening.
Extra services between York and Scarborough were one of a number of improvements called for by Lord David Blunkett in his White Rose Plan for Rail.
Mayor David Skaith worked with South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Lord Blunkett on the plan, which sets out how they can work together to better connect people and grow the economy.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
Giving people more options for getting to and from work, study and school has been at the heart of our work to boost the number of trains between Scarborough and York. This is a significant win for our communities in York, Malton, Seamer, and Scarborough.
For too long, commuters have needed more flexibility, and these extra morning and evening services are a major step towards our goal of a half-hourly service connecting the coast to the city.
I said we’d make sure the impact of Northern Powerhouse Rail was felt right across our region and this is a landmark step towards better connectivity right across the North. It is exactly what the new Great British Railways should deliver, services that puts passengers first and fuels our local economy.
This service will be one of the first services run under Great British Railways, the new name for the nationalisation of rail services in the UK.
It means that there will be additional services at 6.35am and 5.35pm from York to Scarborough, as well as extra trains from Scarborough to York at 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Together with the new station at Haxby, additional services between York and Scarborough will maximise benefits of wider investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TransPennine Express, said:
We’re delighted to be delivering these additional services between York and Scarborough, which will give our customers more choice and greater flexibility at the times they need it most.
We’re proud to play our part in supporting the region’s growth and we are dedicated to improving connectivity for the communities we serve and to ensure that rail truly delivers for passengers today and for the future.
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy said:
The increase in services on the York to Scarborough line will be transformative for passengers, giving more choice and greater flexibility to communities across North Yorkshire.
This is part of our plan for better connectivity as we establish Great British Railways – creating an easy to use, reliable railway that puts passengers first and supports growth, jobs and homes across the UK.
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:
This funding from the Government is extremely welcome and will be of real benefit to people who are travelling to and from Scarborough as they will be able to access the additional train services.
It is so important that we have the best possible rail network across the whole of North Yorkshire, including key coastal towns such as Scarborough.
We want people to have options as to how they travel especially on public transport, bringing environmental benefits and also boosting our economy through investment such as these additional train services during peak commuter times.
