A REPORT into the state of rail services in West Yorkshire has claimed journey times on some routes were “no better than in the early 1980s”, despite significant investment.

The report from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said while improvements have been made since the May 2018 timetable crisis, it was still “disappointed” with the standard of service provided to rail travellers in the region.

Service frequency on Calder Valley, Harrogate and Wakefield lines had not yet reached required levels, while evening and Sunday services on some lines were still not up to scratch.

The report added that it expected to see “significant alterations” to take place when a reviewed timetable is introduced in May.

Two Bradford city centre rail station refurbishment projects will be delayed

It stated: “The May 2019 timetable change can be seen on Northern as an incremental step towards delivering the improvements planned for December 2017 and December 2019.

“While they represent significant progress, shortfalls remain.

“In general, these ‘gaps’ are in line with expectations given the known infrastructure constraints especially around Leeds and Manchester, though others, such as in evening or Sunday services as well as first and last trains, are disappointing.

“Also disappointing is that improvements to journey times have yet to be delivered on several routes; notably, on the Calder Valley Network Rail has recently invested around £150m and delivered significant line speed improvements, despite which some journey times are no faster than they were in the early 1980s.

“WYCA is continuing to bring pressure to bear to maximise what can be delivered on current infrastructure, to understand what further measures are required to deliver these services in full – and to obtain a commitment to carrying these out.”

The report says gaps that will remain following the May timetable changes include a failure to provide improved links between cities including Bradford.

It adds: “Through linkages, especially from Bradford to Manchester Airport, Liverpool, Nottingham and Hull, have not yet been provided, though some were only planned to be operated from December 2019.”

In December there was the loss of east Leeds – Bradford / Halifax links, and the report says this remains in the May timetable, and will now also apply on Sundays as well as weekdays.

There will still just be one train an hour on Sundays on the Leeds – Bradford – Manchester route.

The report continues “Changes to hourly clockface service pattern towards Leeds (eastbound) mean uneven services from Halifax and Bradford (half-hour gaps).”

It is being discussed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee on Friday.

Members will also hear the results of the most recent rail passenger survey - which dates back to the Autumn period. Overall satisfaction with journeys on Northern was 72 per cent, down 11 per cent on the previous year’s results. Commuter satisfaction was lower still at 56 per cent. Overall satisfaction with journeys on TransPennine Express was 73 per cent, down 12% on the previous year’s results.