MANY train services in York and North Yorkshire have been branded "intolerable" in a report by MPs - at the same time as it was announced that rail fares are set to increase.

Arriva Trains Northern was among several rail companies blasted for offering customers an "appalling" service.

The report, compiled by a powerful Commons committee, said Arriva Trains Northern and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) failed to tackle delays and cancellations, ran painfully slow trains, scrapped major projects at short notice and ignored customers.

But Euan Cameron, managing director of Arriva Trains, said: "This report is based on meetings and evidence given over 12 months ago.

"The driver shortage, which was resolved by June 2002, was inherited from the previous operators and Arriva took action quickly to resolve the issue.

"However, it is important to understand that it takes over 12 months to train a driver which meant an instant solution could not be achieved. During this time we worked hard to ensure our customers were kept informed and we met the promises we made to recruit more drivers."

Meanwhile, the SRA announced its conclusion of a year-long review of rail fairs.

Passengers could be forced to pay a rise of one per cent above the rate of inflation to travel by rail, from January 2004.

The major review of fares regulation aimed to redress the balance between taxpayers and fare payers.

Passenger watchdog Ernie Preston, secretary of the York-based North-East Rail Passenger Committee, said today that the announcement was a hindrance to the good work of the railway to reduce road traffic.

He said: "It's a very sad day for rail passengers in that we're meant to be encouraging people to get out of their cars and start using the railways. We have got to have reliable, affordable, accessible rail travel."

David Mallender, a spokesman for GNER, said that the price increase would mainly affect season tickets and saver fares.

SRA chairman, Richard Bowker, said: "Fares must be kept at pace with investment. There is a universal agreement that investment is running at record levels; it is wrong for fares to keep falling. This package is a fairer balance between the contributions of the passenger and the taxpayer."

Updated: 15:11 Friday, June 20, 2003