The decision to abandon plans for parking charges for a number of railway stations in the Bradford area which are currently free will certainly be welcomed by the commuters who use them daily.

However, not everyone will feel the same way, particularly as the decision could contribute to another increase in fares.

And, as we pointed out when the scheme was first mooted, introducing charges might have encouraged some commuters who only drive a short distance to the station to leave the car at home completely, thus helping the environment and their own health by walking to the station.

But it appears that the huge outcry from those who would have been affected has played a significant part in Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin ruling out the idea after the chairman of Metro was among those calling for a re-think.

Many of the 18 stations that would have been hit by fees are in the Bradford area, including Shipley and Crossflats on the Aire Valley Line, and there is no doubt it would have had a major impact on the cost of commuting for those affected.

For Northern Rail, it was the opportunity to bring in more money from a captive market, with little real additional cost for them. As the company is facing a cut in its Government subsidy, there must now be concerns that they will simply add that to the customers’ burden by pushing up fares.

It needs to think very carefully about that before pushing the prices up too much, as passengers, already travelling on outdated and crowded trains, may seek alternative ways of travelling. Just because they are in many ways a captive market does not mean they should be taken for granted.