POLITICAL leaders in Yorkshire are asking for guarantees that promised rail improvements won’t disappear with the end of the East Coast franchise.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed earlier this month that the current franchise would end early, but now leaders for Yorkshire councils are asking him to make sure the better services still come to the region.

Cllrs Susan Hinchliffe and Keith Wakefield - the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s chairman and transport chief - have written to Mr Grayling about improvements, including more direct services between York and London.

They said: “As you will know, the current InterCity East Coast franchise contains a number of important service commitments for the Leeds City Region due for delivery from the May 2019 timetable change.”

The letter asks Mr Grayling for “written assurance that the current commitments will be honoured”.

For York, that would mean a guaranteed 46 trains to London and 44 from London each day - an increase on the 37 each way that run at the moment. On Sundays, it would mean 36 direct trains to London and 34 from London to York - up on the 34 to the capital and 31 from the capital at the moment.

Cllr Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford City Council, added: “While it is clear that lessons need to be learned from another failure of the InterCity East Coast franchise, our immediate priority is to ensure that the improvements passengers have been promised will be delivered.”

Businesses have been planning on the basis of a significant increase in direct services between their cities and London, the two councillors added, and now need quick reassurance from the Secretary of State.