Skipton'S new direct train service to London was given a right royal send-off on early Monday morning.

Skipton Properties Brass Band played as the train drew out of the newly refurbished station at the start of its scheduled three hour journey.

And many local residents got up early to wave off the new 6.54 service which operator Great North Eastern Railway hopes will appeal to businesspeople and tourists alike.

It was the first time in more than 20 years that a train had left Skipton bound for the capital, and it was the first time ever that one had left bound for King's Cross - previously St Pancras had been used.

Champagne flowed as Keighley MP Ann Cryer told invited guests that it was a very great occasion.

"It is absolutely wonderful and I think eventually this will be seen as a building block towards cutting our cars on the roads," she said.

Skipton mayor, Coun Paul Whitaker, said he too was delighted by the new service.

"I am pleased that at last something has come to Skipton because at the moment we seem to be losing everything - police, fire, everything."

But, it was not all on the right track for the inaugural train - a failed engine at Wakefield Station meant a diversion, which added 10 minutes to the journey time.

And, that meant a wait for Skipton MP David Curry who was at King's Cross to welcome the new train with its civic dignitaries.

"I am delighted that this service has been introduced, and hope it will be success," he declared.

The new service marks the culmination of years of campaigning by such organisations as the Aire Valley Rail Users Group and the Keighley Business Forum.

The service is currently diesel hauled because there is insufficient power in the overhead electrification on the Aire Valley line to drive both commuter trains and the intercity locomotive.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.