Plans for the long-awaited Apperley Bridge railway station have been put on hold while rail chiefs consider the cost of the extra trains it will need.

The station was given priority by Railtrack and the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) and earmarked for early implementation in 1999.

But now detailed design of the scheme has been put on hold because the need for extra trains is being considered by the Government's Strategic Rail Authority.

The scheme has already passed a feasibility study and chairman of the PTA's rail working group, Councillor Ann Ozolins, said she was deeply concerned about the delay because large numbers of people hoped to use it.

The proposed station would use Walk Hill Bridge between Apperley Lane and Thackley tunnel to cross the track. Access for vehicles would be via The Avenue and there are proposals to build a 200-space car park on grazing land.

An alternative site would be on nearby land owned by Yorkshire Water if there were difficulties acquiring the grazing land.

Coun Ozolins said more super-trains were needed to serve Apperley Bridge because peak hour trains were likely to be full when they passed through between Leeds and Shipley.

She said: "It's a great disappointment because it is very badly needed. Hundreds of new houses have been built in Apperley Bridge and many people have moved there in order to commute to Leeds. There are going to be even more serious traffic problems."

Coun Ozolins said the issue would go to the meeting of her group next month and she hoped there could be pressure to get the station off the ground.

Alex Suchi of the Bradford Rail Users Group said: "There is a need for a station on that line."

He said people were more likely to use private cars and clog-up the busy area even further.

A spokesman from the Strategic Rail Authority said: "We have funded some rolling stock for Arriva Trains Northern recently and we have no immediate plans to add to it."