ELECTRIC trains and more frequent services are being demanded by councillors at Harrogate, who have opened talks with operating companies and the Strategic Rail Authority.

The borough council is campaigning for electrification of the line to the spa town from Leeds and York and for a better direct link with London.

Councillors are anxious that conference and exhibition organisers and visitors should not be put off booking into Harrogate because of its rail links.

They want a better deal from GNER, which only provides one service a day between Harrogate and London and nothing in the reverse direction.

A council spokesman said the external scrutiny committee was "disappointed" at the situation.

"If GNER is only willing or able to operate a one-way journey between Harrogate and London, there may be a need to consider whether the town would be better served by an incoming train from the capital instead of to it."

At all other times, passengers have to change at York or Leeds and the committee is not happy with the inconvenience, overcrowding and rollingstock condition.