PEOPLE who use the car park at Thirsk station are to see reductions in yearly and quarterly season tickets.

But no concessions are to be offered in Northallerton, despite recent protests.

First Transpennine Express has agreed to season ticket reductions at three railway stations - Thirsk, Malton and Selby - though daily parking is to stay at £2.

The cost of yearly parking at these stations will be reduced from £321.60 to £180, and quarterly from £90 to £60.

Daily parking at Northallerton railway station, which was increased from £1 to £2, will remain. A rail company spokesman said: "This is because Northallerton users were used to paying for car parking whereas the other stations had enjoyed free parking until recently."

The reduction in season tickets followed two meetings with Selby MP John Grogan and Selby Rail Users' Group secretary, Reg French.

Mr Grogan said: "Although we have made some progress, rail season ticket users in Selby, Thirsk and Malton, who have traditionally enjoyed free parking, are still faced with a huge increase which will bring total commuting costs rising by nearly 20 per cent."

Commuters often park on streets to avoid paying the charges.

Coun Derek Adamson, chairman of Thirsk Town Council, said: "It now costs travellers to York £10 per day with a rail ticket. Yet you could take your car to the outskirts and use park and ride and get two or three journeys for that amount.

"I believe the car parking charges are discouraging people from using the railways. If the daily rate was only £1, it wouldn't be so bad. And if you pay for a season ticket, you are not guaranteed a car parking space and cannot get a refund."