News of Keighley's first direct rail link to London has been welcomed by local MP Ann Cryer.

Last week we revealed how a service to Kings Cross is being launched on September 28. The Great North Eastern Railway high-speed diesel train will leave Skipton at 6.54am each weekday, calling at Keighley at 7.05am and Shipley at 7.14am. It will arrive in London at 9.47am. Heading northbound, the train will leave Kings Cross at 5.50pm to arrive in Keighley at 8.39pm and Skipton at 8.52pm.

Mrs Cryer, who along with Keighley Business Forum has campaigned for the link, says: "I am pleased that GNER has responded to the needs of travellers by introducing this service. I will certainly be using this new link as I travel to and from parliament by train, and this will save me having to change at Leeds.

"I am still pressing Railtrack to upgrade the electrification on the Shipley to Skipton section. The refurbished InterCity diesels will need replacing in a few years and I want to be sure this service will be able to continue, with more frequent trains if possible, into the future."

The new service will enable passengers to make the journey to and from Kings Cross without changing trains. Currently an all-train journey from Keighley to London involves a change at Leeds or Bradford.

Last week Keighley Business Forum - which has worked with GNER to bring about the link - said it was delighted at the news. It said the service would provide a boost to local businesses.

tourism and individuals.

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