THE firm that operates TransPennine train services has been forced to apologise to passengers over cuts.

TransPennine Express has reduced the number of services stopping at York, Thirsk, Northallerton and Middlesbrough, from 16 to ten a day and has introduced buses to replace withdrawn trains.

Bosses say the move, made only nine months after it took over the contract from Arriva Trains Northern, is only a temporary measure aimed at running a more reliable service and will be reviewed in a few weeks' time.

But passenger Simon McKeown, who contacted The Northern Echo to complain, said: "To cut the only evening service back to Thirsk for rail users is a scandal, particularly as it seems to be purely a way to get rid of gridlock on the route.

"TransPennine promised improved trains, improved timetabling and more, but they have done nothing of the sort.

Mr McKeown said that when he contacted a help desk run by the train operator, staff admitted they too were not made aware of the changes initially.

TransPennine spokesman David Mallender said: "We're very sorry that our communication of the changes has not been as effective as our passengers expect. We endeavoured to get information to all stations. Announcements were made on trains last week and the revised timetable is published on our website.

"We were careful at the start of the franchise not to promise immediate improvements. New trains are being built now and are due to enter service on the route in 2006."

TransPennine links locations such as Newcastle, York, Darlington and Leeds, with Manchester and Liverpool.

The company says that it is introducing a £250m fleet of 51 trains on its network from December 2006