North Yorkshire's Mayor says he's confident there can be further improvements to the Yorkshire Coast's rail network.
David Skaith says he's been working with government and train providers like Trans Pennine Express to put forward the business case for more trains between Scarborough and York:
"We're continuing to make progress on the two trains per hour between York and Scarborough, which we had a very productive meeting on that quite recently and really pressing hard on how much of a priority that is for our region. We're building a really strong case for the transformative change that would make along that corridor.
So it's not just necessarily connecting York to Scarborough, but it's the opportunity that does for place like Malton along that route as well. So it's incredibly important. Potential development opportunities around Seamer and then obviously into the Scarborough area as well. Increased frequency along that York and Scarborough corridor study, which we're developing now and we're having really good strong engagement with government.
We're incredibly positive about the opportunity around this and the improvement that it'll make and to linking the coast. 'cause obviously it's an absolute priority and we say we're regularly conversations with the Secretary of State, TPE and the transport north board."
Mr Skaith revealed half-hourly trains on the route was refused outright at first, after meetings last December.
However, now he believes it will happen once enough drivers are trained up:
"An additional morning train will operate from December 2025, and my officers and my head of rail actually does live in Scarborough, so he's incredibly passionate about this and has supported the work to enable this and will continue to work with the Community Rail Partnership and Northern trains to promote the service.
The main challenge around it appears to be is the actual lack of train drivers, which were on with the operator who will be running the service. It takes between about 12 and 18 months to train a driver. 'cause obviously it's a very technical, very challenging job. But that is in the process of, I'm not going to give a specific time date, but I'm very optimistic that it will happen.
We've gone from being completely no way ever to now. Yes it will, but I'll just come with those technical challenges. But we are working with. The operators, TPE, Northern, with government to really drive that business case."
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