TEMPORARY reductions in train services across the Pennines through Northallerton and Thirsk have been fiercely criticised by passengers.

The contingency measure was introduced on Monday by TransPennine Express, which said then that by cutting some services it hoped to improve the reliability of others during the autumn period.

Two days later, however, the company admitted that the unreliability of 14-year-old diesel units and drivers refusing to work rest days because of a pay and conditions dispute had contributed to the decision. It is understood that a quarter of the TransPennine fleet was out of service on Monday.

TransPennine, which took over the franchise from Arriva Trains Northern nine months ago, is reducing daily weekday services between York and Middlesbrough from 16 to ten, while travellers between York and Newcastle will have ten services a day instead of 13. Buses are replacing withdrawn trains and the temporary timetable will be reviewed in two weeks.

Angry travellers, who branded the move a confusing public relations disaster, said more notice should have been given. One commuter reported that two northbound morning trains from Northallerton shown as withdrawn in the temporary timetable were still running.

They spoke of sketchy or non-existent information at local stations and apparent conflict in advice given by platform and booking office staff, the TransPennine web site containing the temporary timetable and telephone enquiry centres.

Simon McKeown, of Thirsk, who said the TransPennine helpline appeared to have been told of the decision only last Friday, complained: "A vital link between York and Thirsk has been cut arbitrarily by the company, which promised improved trains, improved timetabling and more.

"They have done nothing of the sort. Evening journeys have now been extended by over an hour. Without any notification passengers have been left stranded in the dark on bus journeys they were not expecting, as if this service, which is already late, is not bad enough already.

"To cut the only evening service back to Thirsk for rail users is a scandal on the basis of improving performance."

An irate traveller from Northallerton said that during the busy period between 4pm and 5.40, there were no services from there to York and added: "This cutback is reminiscent of the bad days of the former operator on this line when trains were replaced by buses owing to a shortage of drivers.

"TransPennine are barely nine months into their franchise and buses are no substitute for the train services they were awarded the franchise to run."

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh, who has written to TransPennine Express managing director Vernon Barker, said: "I understand the cuts are at off-peak times and will be reviewed in two weeks, but I am very concerned about how they will affect commuters as well as the ability of other residents to reach essential services."

A TransPennine spokesman said: "We are very sorry that our communication of the changes has not been as effective as our passengers expect."

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