PASSENGER numbers on the Airedale railway line have increased.

Latest figures from regulator the Office of Rail and Road show that around 9.1 million people used the route in the past year.

The total compares to 8.6 million in 2015-16, a rise of about 5.6 per cent.

Tim Calow, chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users' Group, welcomes the increase.

But he says there are still issues along the line which need addressing.

"The fact Apperley Bridge Station has had its first full year since opening is reflected in the figures," said Mr Calow.

"And it is generally a good train service on the Airedale line, although overcrowding is still a problem."

The group has also voiced concerns about operator Northern's new on-the-spot fine system for passengers who fail to buy a ticket before boarding.

A team of inspectors is now patrolling stations on the Airedale line and ticketless travellers could get a £20 penalty fare.

Mr Calow said: "In principle we don't have a problem with the penalties but our main issue is that some stations only have one ticket machine, which creates difficulties.

"When you arrive at some stations you have a significant walk to the machine and then can have to queue for a ticket.

"For example if you park-up at Steeton & Silsden Station to catch a Skipton-bound train, you have a long walk to the ticket machine on the opposite platform.

"OK there are other ways to buy tickets, but they don't suit everybody."

Northern said new ticket machines had been installed at stations.

It added that the system had been introduced because reducing the number of people who travel without a ticket was in the interests of customers who pay their fares, and that there was an appeals procedure in place.

Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said there was a risk of passengers being made to feel like criminals.

He added: "Northern should restrict itself to penalising people trying to leave a station having not paid and having not attempted to pay.

"There are a number of reasons why people may not have a ticket in advance – ticket machines not working, long queues at machines or ticket counters – and those people should not be made to feel like criminals and go through the bureaucracy of appealing against fines."