'It's staggering' - York hits out after London rail link is closed for Ebor day

York has been left "shocked and incredibly disappointed" after discovering news that threatens to leave many Ebor meeting travel plans in ruins.

Network Rail has announced that the East Coast mainline is set to be closed between London Kings Cross and Peterborough on Saturday August 24, the day of the first £1 million Sky Bet Ebor.

The track will also be shut on Sunday, August 25 and customers have been advised not to travel on either day.

The planned closure will come at the end of a summer when racegoers were hit by a strike during Royal Ascot and will have a devastating effect on those trying to get to many other big events.

It is the weekend of the Ashes Test Match at Headingley, the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, while Newcastle play Tottenham Hotspur in London and the Leeds and Edinburgh festivals will also be taking place.

York is angry that they did not find out about the planned line closure until last month and course executives met senior figures from Network Rail and LNER last week.

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Chief executive and clerk of the course William Derby said: "York racecourse was shocked and incredibly disappointed to learn in June of the plans to close the East Coast mainline south of Peterborough on Ebor day this August.

"This meeting dates back to 1843 and the Sky Bet Ebor is our most famous race and the richest flat handicap in Europe, enjoyed by 30,000 racegoers including many international visitors.

"Our fixture list was published last summer and plans for this day have been many years in the making. At the eleventh hour, to discover Network Rail’s plans to sever London from the North on a busy August bank holiday weekend for us and many other events and festivals is staggering.

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"They have acknowledged that consultation should and could have been better, as should communication from the rail industry. It is our hope that the rail industry reconsiders this plan or failing that makes further significant efforts to mitigate its impact for people wishing to travel.

"We appreciate the need for investment in infrastructure and the challenges this poses – however, this date disappoints so many racing fans. We suggested the new mid-May bank holiday in 2020 might allow for better planning, communication, alternative arrangements and have far fewer competing events."

Those wishing to go to York from London by public transport face the prospect of having to take a train north from Euston or St Pancras then travelling cross-country on a local northern service, or travelling by coach.

The Sky Bet Ebor, worth £1m for the first time this year, draws a huge crowd to YorkCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Derby added: "Commentators often talk about both the knowledge and enthusiasm of the Knavesmire crowd. I only hope that the passion from those based in London will see them rise to the challenge and find an alternative way to get here to witness our most famous race."

Keighley MP John Grogan was angry that the timing of the £1.2 billion improvement scheme had ignored sports fans and leisure visitors, and told the Yorkshire Post: "Sport is not just important for itself and the joy it brings to many lives it is also a major economic driver which puts food on the table in many households.

"There seems to be little recognition from Network Rail of this basic truth. The current consultative mechanisms on rail shutdowns seem little more than cursory and need to be beefed up by the new secretary of state for transport."

Network Rail said it is the first planned closure of the line in 20 years and the package of improvements will create additional capacity for passengers.

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