It turns out that Northern Rail have called a strike on the 10th Jan, irritatingly after I booked advance tickets from Kings Cross to Harrogate.

Northern Rail reckon the last train to leave York will be at 7pm, about an hour and a half before my train from London gets in. There aren’t any public buses from York in the evening – will it end in tears if I take a taxi and claim for the cost?

Speak to the rail company. Are there any options via Leeds instead?

There will be a bus to Leeds then onwards to Harrogate, but I reckon that will take the best part of 2 hours.

Yeah, see if they will let you take a Leeds train. Can get train to Harrogate from there or, if not running, plenty of buses. Best bus combo might actually be the 757 to Airport and then 747 from there to Harrogate.

Rachel

As above, see if they will switch tickets so you go KX to Leeds directly. Then either catch a train if you can or jump on a bus. The Leeds/Harrogate/Ripon buses are quite pleasant.

If you get to Leeds then the bus you need is the 36, nice buses with leather seats.

I think a 747 from Leeds airport to Harrogate might be a tad excessive.

Virgin run a direct KX-Harrogate train (via Leeds)

Can’t believe I didn’t think of trying to change to the Leeds train. Inspired idea, thank you!

Argh. Virgin Trains say “no”.