Rail services in Harrogate and Knaresborough are set to be affected by a fresh wave of strikes this week.
Train drivers’ union ASLEF will walk out on Friday, May 12, prompting train operator Northern to cancel all services.
RMT members will strike on Saturday, May 13, leading Northern to operate only hourly services on a small number of key routes between 7am and 7pm.
Further information is available here.
Although there is no strike action on Sunday, May 14, services are expected to start later in the morning than normal due to what Northern has described as “fleet displacement”.
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:
“It is disappointing to see the return of industrial action to the rail network.
“Whilst all strikes disrupt someone, these particular dates will have a significant impact on people travelling on our network to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
“Given the context in which the UK is hosting this international event – on behalf of the people of Ukraine – this is particularly unfortunate.”
Northern’s guide to upcoming services
A statement on ASLEF’s website blamed the action on “failure of management to offer a fair deal on pay”. It added:
“Most of the drivers have not had a pay increase at all since 2019 and with inflation still well over 10% and the cost of living spiralling, this is not acceptable.”
Further ASLEF action, known as ‘action short of strike’ will take place for five consecutive days from May 15 to 20.
Northern is urging people to check train times before they travel’ as early morning and late night services may be affected.
ASLEF members are also due to walk out on May 31 and June 1 on which there will be no Northern services.
New timetable
This month’s strike action comes ahead of Northern introducing its new summer timetable on Sunday, May 21.
Customers who make regular journeys on the same train times are advised to check before they travel as some services may have been re-timed.
More information is available here.
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Appeal for man following Knaresborough train station robbery
British Transport Police has put out an appeal to find a man in his 20’s following a report of a robbery at Knaresborough Train Station in September.
The man the police are looking for was described as 20 to 25 years old, of slim build and wearing a grey tracksuit top and bottoms. He was with a woman with blonde hair.
The robbery was reported between 6.25pm and 6.30pm on Saturday, September 25 on the Leeds bound platform.
A British Transport Police statement said:
“A man is reported to have been assaulted and had his bank card stolen. Officers are appealing for information from anyone who was in the area at the time.”
To report information contact the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. Use the reference number 529 of 25/09/21.
Or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Knaresborough train station bar is a ‘labour of love’
The owners of a new bar arriving at Knaresborough’s train station next month say the project has become a “labour of love”.
Jason White and Phil Paling of Gorilla Brothers Ltd already own a brewery and bar near Doncaster that focuses on craft ales.
The Track & Sleeper will open on platform two by the last week of May, serving a selection of real ales, ciders and gins.
Its two large rooms allow for plenty of seating, 20 outside and 70 inside.
The owners have made the most of the generous space and installed a large bar, made out of sleepers, to hold 12 pumps. They are hoping to use four of these for guest ales from local breweries.
Mr White said:
“We want to be part of the bar scene in Knaresborough and hopefully people will buy into it. It’s been a labour of love for us.
“We have fallen in love with the town and who’s to say we wouldn’t open another bar locally.”
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It has taken the men more than a year to get to this point after originally submitting their business plan to Northern in January 2020 and only getting into the building to start renovations three weeks ago.
The Grade II listed station dates back to Victorian times. The Track & Sleeper’s design is said to be in keeping with its history by using period colours and maintaining some original features.
Mr White added:
Full steam ahead for micropub at Knaresborough train station“We’re trying to go along the lines of how things would have looked 100 years ago.”
A developer can now move ahead with plans for a micropub at Knaresborough’s train station.
Harrogate Borough Council has approved the plans for the Track and Sleeper with a few conditions and alterations, including that work must start before September 2023.
The Track and Sleeper will take over a couple of vacant units at the Grade II listed building. It will serve real ale and gin.
Both the Knaresborough Civic Society and the Friends of Knaresborough Station wrote in support of the plans. The council also said the plans were sympathetic to the building.
These are the new plans including planters.
The community groups raised concerns about a lack of toilets and a “potential nuisance” from the pub’s customers. The landlord will need to monitor those concerns going forward.
Instead of the timber barriers previously submitted, the amended plans inclued moveable planters with barriers in between.
The council believes that because the pub is bringing vacant units back into use that it will be beneficial for the building. It also supported the plans to reinstate the fireplace inside the pub.