Half-hourly Scarborough-York trains still a priority for Mayor despite ‘disappointing’ comments

David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has said he is committed to doubling the number of trains run between York and Scarborough after train operator TransPennine Express raised doubts about the proposal.

Since his election in May, Mr Skaith has said that improving transport links in coastal areas is a priority and that meetings with train operators in the region were underway to realise the plans.

However, last autumn, TransPennine Express (TPE) – which currently runs one train an hour from York to Scarborough – said it had “no plans to change the frequency of services”.

This week, the mayor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was “disappointed” by TPE’s comments which he said did not reflect “the private conversation that we’ve had with them”.

Mr Skaith added: “I found that disappointing because […] we have got plans in place.

“We’ve put a specific team together with TPE, with Network Rail, and with the Government to really drive that plan forward.”

He said there would be another meeting “in a couple of weeks’ time where we’re going to keep pushing that need for that half-hourly train because we’re still really determined.”

As part of the York and North Yorkshire devolution deal, the mayor and Combined Authority will have new powers and funding to integrate local transport.

The mayor said: “We have a team who have been designing our transport plan going forward and we will take control of transport from April and we’re going to combat the real challenges around buses in particular and active travel elements.”

Mr Skaith has said he is also looking at developing stations including at Scarborough, Seamer, Thirsk, Malton, and Haxby.

He added: “Developing Haxby station at York will have a great knock-on effect for Scarborough.”

Alison Hume, Scarborough and Whitby’s MP, has also called for a half-hourly train service between Scarborough and York.