Commuters to get more legroom on packed trains

From December Northern Rail will be able to run five more trains – 2,200 extra seats – each day on the lines from Skipton, Ilkley and Doncaster via Wakefield.

The company will also lengthen other trains on existing services.

The extra carriages form part of 650 the Department for Transport is introducing on the rail network by 2014, with 2,100 being promised over the next few years.

The Government has already announced that it is raising the cap which limits price rises on regulated fares, including season tickets, from January 2012.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: “Even at a time of severe pressure on public spending, we cannot afford not to invest in Britain’s future – and that’s why we are investing more than £10m in providing these extra carriages for Yorkshire commuters.

“They will ease crowding and provide passengers with more comfortable journeys.

“The tough decisions the Government has taken on rail fares allow us to continue to deliver this sort of much needed improvement to the railways.”

The five Class 322 electric trains will also allow for some diesel units to be moved to strengthen services on the Calder Valley line travelling between Leeds, Bradford and Manchester Victoria.

Metro Chairman Coun Chris Greaves welcomed the news but warned the rail network in West Yorkshire still needed more investment as passenger numbers have grown by more than 50 per cent during the past decade.

“This will be very good news for the many people who have to travel on overcrowded commuter services every day and also represents a welcome boost for the local economy,” he said.

“We have been pressing for these additional carriages and are pleased that this announcement will see an additional 2,200 seats on four of the busiest routes in and out of Leeds from December.

“While this is very welcome news, I am conscious that other routes also suffer from overcrowding and I hope that further additional carriages will be secured in the near future.”

He added that the extra capacity would also help to strengthen proposals for new stations at Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge and Low Moor, and allow the development of other local rail services.