CAMPAIGNING rail users in the district are backing calls by West Yorkshire Combined Authority for train company Northern to improve its timetable plans for May 2018.

James Vasey, of Bradford Rail Users’ Group, is also urging company bosses to boost the number of trains stopping at the new Low Moor station, due to its success.

The Combined Authority warned last month that the proposed changes to services in the region could breach the terms of its franchise agreement.

A report says while there are a range of “welcome improvements”, there are also issues, including irregular service gaps between Leeds and Bradford/Halifax and interchange options via Shipley being lost, which are causing concern.

Mr Vasey told the Telegraph & Argus there were a number of issues affecting Bradford rail users in the draft timetable, particularly around stopping patterns and the bunching of services.

But he added: “There’s no improvement in service at Low Moor which we would have expected given its success since it opened.

“Northern currently runs one train an hour stopping at Low Moor, so we hope then will increase this to a half-hourly service.”

Tim Calow, of the Aire Valley Rail Users’ Group, said there were a number of improvements, particularly with services that go beyond Skipton, but on the Airedale Line there were some key concerns too. These were around trains no longer going through to Morecambe, Sunday services not connecting in Shipley and journey times from Skipton to Leeds on weekdays being a few minutes longer.

“We are hoping this will get picked up up through the consultation,” he added.

Stephen Waring, of the Halifax and District Rail Action Group, said: “We know Northern want to improve our services under the franchise agreement. We have put forward constructive criticisms on what is currently proposed. We want passengers to be able to welcome the May 2018 timetable when it is finalised, not greet it with a storm of protest.”

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He added that they were pressing for a further meeting with Northern bosses, to seek reassurances about future developments, such as service improvements on the Brighouse line ready for the planned reopening of Elland Station by 2022.

A spokesman for Northern said they had consulted on the draft timetable proposals and the final plans for May 2018 were expected to be published by the end of the year.