Concerns have been raised about a plan to reduce the train services from Northallerton next year.
LNER is planning to discontinue direct services to Edinburgh, and its new direct service from London to Middlesbrough will not call at Northallerton.
TransPennine Express is also planning significant changes in services from May 2022.
Its draft Northallerton timetable reveals the loss of direct trains to Newcastle, with the exception of one westbound train at 4.48am, while connections with Darlington have been described as “extremely spasmodic” by officials from Northallerton Business Improvement District (BID).
Journeys across the Pennines are also set to take longer as Northallerton will be relegated to the Saltburn to Manchester route.
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, which it says will have a negative impact on the town.
“We pride ourselves on our main-line connections, so this is a major concern,” said manager Graham Bell.
“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.”
While it is suggested CrossCountry Trains may fill gaps on direct Edinburgh services, BID chiefs feel passengers will be loath to lose their more modern and spacious Azumas.
Northallerton BID is urging passengers to make their concerns known via the LNER and TransPennine Express consultation programmes, which are open until August 5.
To take part in the consultations, click here for LNER and here for TransPennine Express.
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