COMMUTERS are yet to fully return to West Yorkshire's trains since lockdown restrictions eased - and this could lead to a shift in how trains operate.

Although people are once again using trains to make "leisure" trips, a shift is office working is meaning many peak time trains have very few passengers.

Councillors from across West Yorkshire were given an update on how public transport was faring post lockdown at a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transport Committee yesterday.

Members heard that on the rail network Northern Rail was running with 75 per cent passenger numbers compared to pre-pandemic.

But with many workers still working from home, the "commuter" services in the morning and late afternoon were showing a much lower recovery.

Just 38 per cent of people who commuted to work by train before the pandemic had returned to regular rail travel.

The most recent figures for Leeds Station, which date from mid October, show that footfall was down 30 per cent.

At the meeting, members were told that this shift could change how rail services operate.

Bus and taxi driver shortage impacting public transport in West Yorkshire

Pre pandemic most rail providers had morning and afternoon peak times, when most people would commute and when there is a greater demand on services.

Off peak services - through the middle of the dan and in the evening, are often cheaper to ride.

At them meeting Dave Pearson, director of transport services, said: "At certain times train services are busier than they were before the pandemic, but in early mornings they are empty.

"The commuting that is taking place is not necessarily at peak times as people are working more flexible hours now.

"This might change the definition of what 'peak time' is. We need to get a consistent service across the whole day and week.

"Before the pandemic we put a lot of resources into providing more train capacity between 7am and 9am and 4pm and 6pm. It was these times that extra trains or carriages were added into the timetable to meet demand.

"Coming out of the pandemic this may not be the most appropriate way of doing things."

The meeting also heard of the pressures on West Yorkshire bus services.

Passenger levels were around 75 per cent of what they were before the Covid Pandemic began in March 2020.

A shortage of drivers - currently one in ten posts are vacant, has led to reductions in the frequency of some services.

The driver shortage issue was raised at a meeting of the Transport Committee last month.

At yesterday's meeting Mr Pearson said: "The issue is not any worse than it was a month ago, but it is not any better."

Members heard that issues such as delays in the DVLA processing licenses were partly behind the shortage. Another cause was the number of drivers leaving to become HGV drivers due to financial incentives.

Councillor Kim Groves said: "This is a good opportunity for the bus industry to look at the ways it can attract new people to come and work for them."

Councillor Neil Buckley (Cons, Alwoodley) pointed out that there was also a shortage of private hire drivers. He said: "Companies like Amazon are offering £20 an hour to drivers."