RYEDALE’S MP has said train service improvements must be maintained as he continues to closely scrutinise their performance.

Last month, Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake intervened in the row over TransPennine Express (TPE) rail services after it was described as a “diabolical”.

Now, Mr Hollinrake has welcomed the recent improvements to the frequency and reliability of train services.

Mr Hollinrake was following up on conversations that he and fellow Yorkshire MPs, Robert Goodwill and Jason McCartney had had with TPE managing director Leo Goodwin, just before Christmas.

According to the latest statistics fewer than 10 per cent of trains were cancelled or delayed in the first week of January compared with up to 33 percent in the last 10 days of December.

Mr Hollinrake said: “These improvements are a step in the right direction, but there is still more to be done.

“Passengers have every right to expect a punctual and reliable service so they can get to work on time and go about their business without spending hours hanging around waiting for trains only to find that they are either delayed or cancelled.”

On Monday a customer compensation scheme that cancels out the annual regulated fare increase for season ticket holders came into effect.

Mr Hollinrake said: “These schemes are welcome, but they are not enough. There needs to be a concerted effort on behalf of TPE to ensure that future services are reliable and punctual.”

The MPs are also planning to meet the Secretary of State for Transport, MP Grant Shapps to formally ask him to continue to review TPE’s fitness to hold the franchise for the route, which is scheduled to last up to 2023.