Harrogate Chamber - Transport Meeting report
The Chamber’s meeting on Transport at the Cedar Court Hotel on Monday evening 11th September enabled the leaders of the four main local and national transport providers to announce their plans for the future.
Henri Robert, the newly appointed MD of Transdev Harrogate, announced a massive £21m investment supported by North Yorkshire Council in a new electrified fleet of buses comprising 20 single deckers and 19 double deckers for 2024. The new buses will all have air conditioning, wi-fi, phone holders with USB, reading lights, double glazing, extra wheel-chair spaces, fill length low floor, audio visual next stop announcements with real-time information.
Tony Baxter, the Regional Director East of Northern Trains, explained that customers had changed the journeys they make, how they buy tickets and what types of tickets they buy. Customer usage is estimated at 3.1m journeys in 2023/24 with punctuality now almost 70%. Looking ahead they are planning the replacement of the ageing Class 15X fleets of old trains whilst Harrogate will continue using the newer Class 170 fleet until 2043.
David Flesher, Commercial Director of LNER, reported that LNER now had two years of passenger growth above pre-pandemic levels, resulting in revenue being 15% ahead compared with pre-COVID levels. East Coast main-line trains are very busy with services on the Harrogate Line growing from 15-20%. New timetables are now being planned for December 2024 with an earlier direct service from Harrogate to Kings Cross and a later evening return.
Vincent Hodder, Chief Executive Officer of Leeds Bradford Airport, reported investment in Check-in Hall A with latest generation passenger processing equipment reducing queueing times dramatically to an average of 6 minutes. Increased staff remuneration and benefits with improved management and supervision. Passenger numbers are forecast to grow from the current 4.3m to 7m by 2030/31, so plans for enlarging the existing terminal are in hand.
In conclusion the President of the Chamber, Sue Kramer, thanked all the speakers for their excellent presentations, saying It was brilliant hearing from all the senior local transport representatives, and learning about the exciting plans for the future.
Brian L Dunsby OBE
Transport Spokesman
Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce
