IMPROVEMENT plans for railway stations and services across North Yorkshire are on the way in the next two years, councillors have learnt.

Many smaller stations, including Selby, Malton, Seamer and Thirsk are set for improvements in the next year; with changes in timetables and better Sunday services for Northallerton and Thirsk.

North Yorkshire County Council’s transport plan aims to ensure 85 per cent of the population can reach a main HS2 stations - York, Leeds and Darlington - within 40 minutes with 70 per cent of the population able to get to a conventional railway station within 20 minutes.

Currently feasibility work on what can be done at stations at Northallerton, Thirsk, Seamer, Malton, Harrogate, Selby and Skipton is being carried out.

The Esk Valley rail user group is also looking at options for the new potash mine being built near Whitby.

More immediate work is being carried out on improving access and installing new ticket machines at Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Graham North, the county council's transport officer, said talks were underway to resolve problems over highway and level crossings at Malton and Norton when a new half hour rail service between Scarborough and York is introduced.

All of North Yorkshire's train operators are refurbishing and modernising trains and new trains will be introduced over the next two years, he added.

Mr North told members of the transport scrutiny committee the eventual aim was to transform the Harrogate, Leeds, York line with better journey times, more modern high quality rolling stock and ultimately electrification.

Northern and Transpennine companies are looking at providing later evening services especially out of the major centres, he said, but there gas been no progress on reopening the Ripon to Northallerton line which closed in 1967.