The fight to get a good deal for travellers has been taken up with a vengeance by the Harrogate Advertiser.

This week’s issue publishes an open letter to John Prescott, Secretary of State for Envronment Transport and Regions.

The timely reminder about what the Advertiser believes the public wants and needs comes as decision day nears on who will take over the region’s rail services

The paper is concerned about the Harrogate to London service which local MP Phil Willis has told readers he is “disgusted” with.

The only through service leaves daily at 7.29am and does not arrive until 10.30am. And even that appears to be under threat in the shake-up.

Neither Virgin nor GNER – the two bidders for the franchise – have said they will improve the service if they win – and the Advertiser is worried that could be detrimental to the region’s economy.

The open letter challenges Mr Prescott to ask both operators: “Just what are you going to do for Harrogate?”

Copies of the newspaper are being sent both to Mr Prescott and Mr Willis to help the campaign.

Readers are being invited to write to the minister and tell him why Harrogate deserves better, and to share their views with other readers through the Advertiser’s letters page.

To see the full text of the open letter click here.

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