THE twin towns of Malton and Norton have yet again been sidelined by a major rail company.

Midland Mainline today launched a direct service from London to Scarborough.

But the trains will not stop at Malton, effectively leaving it off the rail map. The launch comes only months after Northern Spirit announced it would be running a non-stop express service between York and Scarborough.

The Midland Mainline service will see one train running in each direction every Saturday.

A spokesman for Eden Camp war museum, near Malton, one of the region's biggest tourist attractions, said the idea of missing out Malton was "strange".

"It seems strange when Mr Prescott (head of the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions) is telling people to use public transport.

"People waiting at Malton station might buy themselves a cup of tea or a newspaper or go to one of the local pubs. It's local businesses that will lose out, not just us."

Deputy Mayor of Norton Town Council, Councillor Keith Mennell, said he had "mixed feelings" about the Mainline service.

"I understand the concern but if it is an express service it cannot stop at every station," he said.

Cathy Naylor, spokeswoman for Midland Mainline, said: "The train will stop in York and go direct to Scarborough. The main reason it won't stop in Malton is that we are looking at bringing up people to Scarborough, that's where the market is.

"If we find there is a demand for Malton we will look at it. We want to see what demand there is before we put in additional stops. We are going to see how the Scarborough service goes first."

Officials in Scarborough, however, have welcomed the extra service. Leader of Scarborough Borough Council, Coun Eileen Bosomworth, said: "The Scarborough Forum for Tourism and the council have been working in partnership to develop new business opportunities and this rail connection links us directly to new markets in the Midlands and south- east of England."