Northern Rail staff have told bosses they must act to stop the problem of violence on trains and at stations.

Rail workers are calling for more station and on-train staff, a more visible police presence, a ban on alcohol on some services and a zero-tolerance approach to infringement of bylaws.

Their call comes just weeks after the company invested £1.5 million to improve security along the Airedale and Wharfedale lines and tackle anti-social behaviour on trains and at stations.

New uniformed security teams are in place to patrol the network and to monitor stations and car parks while responding to incidents or patrolling.

Now a petition, already signed by a majority of Northern Rail conductors and station staff, also calls for managers to be on hand late at night and at weekends to provide support and co-ordinate resources, and for stations to close later.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has the support of a number of MPs who have already tabled a Commons motion calling on Northern Rail and the British Transport Police to respond positively.

Its general secretary Bob Crow said: "The statistics tell the sorry story of more and more violence against railway staff, particularly late at night and at weekends, and our members are telling Northern Trains that they have reached the end of the line."

The RMT said this year there had already been 109 physical assaults and 230 cases of threats and verbal abuse with many more going unreported.

But Northern Rail said physical assaults were down by 11 per cent and they had seen a 28 per cent reduction in threats and verbal abuse since last year.

A spokesman said: "Due to initiatives implemented over the last 18 months, we are bucking the national trend in staff assaults. Since our franchise began in December 2004 we have implemented and developed a number of initiatives to deter and reduce assaults against staff.

Aire Valley Rail Users Group chairman Tim Calow said: "We are anxious the staff should have adequate back-up in case of problems but we are also concerned that staff should be up and down the trains providing reassurance to the concerns of fee-paying passengers.

"As far as I am aware there are things being done about it and Northern Rail is working together with the British Transport Police on this issue."

e-mail: fiona.evans@bradford.newsquest.co.uk