Paused long-distance rail service reinstated
Ten daily CrossCountry services stopped calling at Wakefield Westgate station over the summer
- Published
A long-distance train service will call at a West Yorkshire station once again - three months after it was paused by a rail operator.
Ten daily CrossCountry services between Scotland and the South West of England stopped calling at Wakefield Westgate station from June in an effort to reduce overcrowding.
The move was met with local opposition, with Wakefield and Rothwell MP Simon Lightwood accusing the operator of being “reckless” and “leaving passengers in the lurch”.
CrossCountry confirmed a full timetable of services was reinstated on Sunday.
'Vital services'
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the operator claimed timetable changes were needed to reduce overcrowding and encourage passengers making shorter journeys to switch to other services.
The Labour MP said: "This decision will finally restore vital services which are used by countless residents every day.
"CrossCountry removed these services without proper consultation and left passengers with limited options during the height of summer.
"This is a positive step and one which will be welcomed by my constituents, but it is long overdue."
A CrossCountry spokesperson said the timetable alterations were always a "temporary change".
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