Uniformed security squads are riding alongside train passengers in a bid to crack down on troublemakers.

Rail bosses are using the highly-visible guards to patrol trains and platforms as part of a £1.5 million drive to root out anti-social behaviour.

Train operator Northern Rail said it is spending the cash to protect passengers and staff from abuse and assault on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.

Private security officers are used on trains in London and Glasgow, but this is thought to be the first time they have been used in West Yorkshire.

"We have had a series of issues on these lines involving unprovoked abuse against staff and passengers," said Martyn Guiver, Northern Rail's security and emergency planning manager.

"The safety of our passengers and staff is paramount. The security teams will patrol the network as a visible deterrent to the small minority of people committing anti-social behaviour along our routes."

Mr Guiver said that the guards had been specifically trained in security relating to trains.

"They have gone through full security training, including counter-terrorism and personal track safety - allowing them to enter the track when necessary - and instruction in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act."

He said their role centred on defusing conflict.

The teams, which started operating yesterday, are equip-ped with vehicles allowing them to respond quickly to incidents.

"The mobile units are fully equipped with communications and video equipment capable of remotely monitoring stations and car parks while the teams are responding to an incident or patrolling the route by train," said a Northern Rail spokesman.

The teams will work in partnership with the British Transport Police, sharing intelligence and attending regular joint briefings.

The move by Northern Rail comes as it was announced that undercover police officers are to ride "shotgun" on Bradford's embattled buses to stamp out daily attacks by children, as reported in yesterday's Telegraph & Argus.

Missiles, including road signs and bricks, have been thrown at the vehicles by children as young as 11, causing more than £5,000-worth of damage.

Now plain-clothed and uniformed police officers and Police Community Support Officers will travel on buses in a bid to stop the attacks.

In just two weeks, there have been 15 attacks on vehicles run by First Bus.

e-mail: jonathan.walton@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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