A RAIL company boss has hit back at claims by North Yorkshire parish councillors that children are being "herded like cattle" on to school trains.
The Danby group parish council, which covers a wide area of the Esk Valley, in the North York Moors National Park, say there are insufficient seats on the trains taking pupils and students to schools and colleges at Whitby.
Councillor Rita Rudsdale said: "The situation is serious. There is not enough space and the children are herded around like cattle. Neither the school buses, nor the trains are satisfactory".
But Peter Limbert, regional director of Arriva Trains North said such comments were "completely out of order".
He added: "We have increased the capacity on the train, but sometimes there are not enough seats. It is a service train, which is also used by other passengers".
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article