BUSINESS leaders concerned at cuts in train services from Northallerton station are protesting to rail operators – and are calling on passengers to support them.

Consultations are currently being held by LNER and Transpennine Express on a shake up of next year's timetable, which Northallerton Business Improvement District (BID) say would reduce services to and from the town.

The BID, which has 200 members is objecting directly to the firms, and is urging residents to have their say before the consultation closes on August 5.

BID leaders are also questioning why £900,000 was spent in the past few years on extending Northallerton's northbound platform by 20 metres to accommodate all of the coaches on the new Azuma and Nova trains if there were going to be less of them stopping at the station.

They say the changes involve LNER stopping direct services to Edinburgh, while its new direct service from London to Middlesbrough will not call at Northallerton.

TransPennine Express is also planning significant changes in services from May. The draft Northallerton timetable reveals the loss of direct trains to Newcastle, with the exception of one westbound train at 4.48am, and connections with Darlington are irregular.

BID manager Graham Bell said: "These services are usually operated by the older and inferior Class 185 trains rather than the newer and more spacious Novas. Northallerton BID is objecting to the proposed changes because we believe it will have a negative impact on the town.

"We pride ourselves on our main-line connections, so this is a major concern. People often travel long distances to shop in Northallerton because of our unique mixture of quality independents and major High Street names, and we must do all we can to resist these changes.

"We are also puzzled why so much money was spent recently on extending the northbound platform for the longer Azuma and Nova trains if fewer of them are likely to stop here."

Mr Bell said it has been suggested CrossCountry Trains may fill gaps on direct Edinburgh services, but they believe passengers will be loath to lose their more modern and spacious Azumas.

He added: "There is still time to object to these changes if others feel as strongly as the BID."

The proposed LNER timetable has also sparked concerns in Darlington on Teesside, with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen this week calling on Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to intervene to postpone changes for a year to allow a new plan to be formed,

“The timetable put forward by LNER is not fit for purpose and is wholly unacceptable,” said Mr Houchen.

LNER has said the timetable is open for consultation and builds on a decade of planning and investment in tracks and new Azuma trains. A spokesperson said it believed the changes would bring improved rail journeys and thousands more seats between London and Newcastle.

The LNER consultation is at: lner.citizenspace.com/user_uploads/consultation_timetable_a4_web-5.pdf

The TransPennine Express consultation is at: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/about-us/our-plan/east-coast-mainline-consultation