The chief of Northern Spirit, operator of trains between York, Harrogate, Scarborough and Leeds, has admitted the service looks likely to get worse, according to a North Yorkshire MP.

The astonishing announcement that services could deteriorate over the next two years unless it gets Government support was made by managing director Paul Davison at a meeting in York, claims Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis.

The MP, who has received a series of complaints about the service running to Harrogate, said: "When the managing director of the rail company says that without Government support things can only get worse, the travelling public should take heed.

"Northern Spirit confirmed that it is unlikely there will be any improvement in punctuality, delays or cancellations and overcrowding."

And the actual infrastructure of the service also looks unlikely to be replaced.

Mr Willis said: "Rolling stock will not improve - and the long-awaited half-hour service on the Harrogate-York line will not materialise.

"Northern Spirit blame the Government and the Government blame Northern Spirit, so who is to blame remains a mystery.

The train boss has agreed to take up an invitation from Mr Willis to face passengers who use Northern Spirit's service at a Harrogate meeting organised for June.

Mr Willis said: "I am disappointed that Northern Spirit cannot promise an improved level of service, but I prefer honesty to deception."

Howard Keal, spokesman for Northern Spirit, said: "The managing director did have a very frank and open meeting with Mr Willis, but we take issue with the negative conclusions that appear to have been drawn from the meeting.

"It is certainly true that we are looking for Government funding, but that's over and above the funding already spent on extra carriages and extra trains that we are going to be providing from the start of the new timetable at the end of May."

He said the additions were of a significant number.

He added: "We are one of the best operators in the country in terms of punctuality and reliability."

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