A rail link to Leeds-Bradford Airport, electrification of the Caldervale Line and development of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, are among a list of “aspirations” a senior council figure wants taken forward up to 2026.

Metro, the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, is developing a blueprint for future rail investment and development for the next 14 years called the RailPlan 7.

But although a report to the Council’s environment and waste management overview and scrutiny committee, by strategic director for regeneration and culture, Barra Mac Ruairi, supports Metro’s proposals for the Airedale, Wharfedale and Caldervale rail lines, it says the transport authority is overall not ambitious enough.

The schemes for the trio of lines include increasing capacity, longer trains and extra station parking, but Mr Mac Ruairi says more could be done.

“While the Council supports the interventions indicated it is felt that they need to be more ambitious in order to satisfy the aim of delivering the best suburban railway in the country,” he said.

“A particular issue for the district is the lack of direct services and slow journey times to Leeds city region sub regional centres and also other city region centres such as Sheffield and Nottingham.

Mr Mac Ruairi suggests the committee should recommend four aspirations to Metro for inclusion in the report.

He says Metro should prioritise the electrification of the Caldervale Line to boost “connectivity and economic growth”, while a tram/train or heavy rail link from Bradford to Leeds Bradford Airport would “ensure that the district would not suffer an economic disadvantage by the provision of a fixed link from the airport to Leeds only”.

He suggests a link from the airport to the Wharfedale line at Guiseley could be a possibility.

The director also recommends more direct services to the district and the reopening of the “Wortley Curve” to allow direct services to Wakefield, Sheffield, Nottingham and London.

Finally, Mr Mac Ruairi says that operating a commuter services on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway could “alleviate the potential growth in vehicle traffic in the Worth Valley”.

The committee meets in City Hall at 5.30pm on Thursday to discuss RailPlan 7.