Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is gaining support for his campaign to improve local train services.
The MP has revealed that the British Regional Transport Association (ERTA) is now officially backing his efforts as he urges the government to invest in regional rail infrastructure.
Tom recently launched a campaign to tackle long-standing transport issues that he believes “continue to hold the area back.”
Speaking in Parliament, he drew particular attention to the Leeds-to-York line via Harrogate, where a single-track bottleneck at Knaresborough limits capacity and causes frequent delays.
He called for urgent action to dual the track between Knaresborough and York – an essential upgrade he said will create a “more reliable and efficient service.”
Shortly after launching the campaign, Tom met with Northern Rail and rode in the train cab along the route to witness the infrastructure challenges firsthand.
During the journey, he discussed the need for significant investment and reiterated the importance of dualling the track.
This week, the British Regional Transport Association has expressed their support for the campaign.
Tom said:
“It’s fantastic to have the support of organisations like the British Regional Transport Association in the campaign to dual the track between Knaresborough and York.
“Their backing reinforces what so many of us already know – this is the right course of action, and it’s something the government must urgently take seriously.”
He added:
“The North deserves the same level of transport investment that the South continuously receives. It’s simply unacceptable that our communities continue to struggle with outdated infrastructure while others benefit from modern, well-funded networks.
“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough deserve a rail service that works – not one held back by bottlenecks and limited capacity.
“Dualling the line between Knaresborough and York is a vital first step, and I’ll continue to press the government to stop dragging its feet and invest in the rail network our region so desperately needs.”
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