RAIL services across the Pennines through Northallerton and Thirsk are due to return to normal on Monday following a controversial two-week reduction in the timetable.

The news was announced as Northallerton traveller Julian Hazeldine revealed how he stood for five hours outside his local railway station and collected 116 signatures on a petition calling for restoration of services.

From November 1, TransPennine Express, which has held the franchise for only nine months, introduced a temporary timetable which saw daily weekday services between York and Middlesbrough reduced from 16 to ten and those between York and Newcastle cut from 13 to ten. Buses replaced withdrawn trains.

At first it was understood that the perennial problem of leaves on the line was to blame, but TransPennine later admitted that unreliability of 14-year-old diesel units, and drivers refusing to work rest days in a pay and conditions dispute, had also been contributory factors.

Mr Hazeldine sent his petition to Moir Lockhead, chief executive of First Group, which operates TransPennine trains with partner company Keolis.

Mr Hazeldine said: "The bus service offered in place of trains is frankly comical, with journeys taking twice as long as those by rail and seeing drivers frantically searching the streets for the rail terminals.

"By only informing its staff of the changes three days before they were implemented, the firm has made obvious the lack of consultation over the slashing of services.

"In the light of the company's recently announced profit increases, it has no excuse for causing this level of inconvenience to customers."

TransPennine said on Wednesday that during the temporary timetable period it had been working with maintenance depots to improve train reliability and daily availability and had secured a new agreement with the drivers' union Aslef to allow members to work on rest days if needed. Train delays during the autumn leaf fall period had not been as severe as anticipated.

Vernon Barker, managing director of TransPennine, said: ''The decision to run a reduced service was not taken lightly and we are sorry for the inconvenience our passengers have experienced.

"We are committed to reducing the number of delayed and cancelled trains and will be working hard to make further improvement."

Mr Hazeldine said it was good news that the company had listened to local people but added: "I will believe it when I see it.