Passengers have asked for better punctuality, cleaner trains and improved timetables in a shopping list delivered to rail chiefs.

The Wharfedale Rail Users group has given its needs to the Strategic Rail Authority which will consider bidders for the franchise currently held by Northern Spirit.

Group chairman Helen Kidman said: "We have been given the opportunity to forward views on what we would like to see in this franchise."

She said they believed train punctuality was vital. But new three-coach electric trains are due to be introduced in December in a £120m investment which should improve services.

The group's shopping list includes:

Improving the reliability target so that 99.8 per cent of trains run as advertised

Improving the punctuality targets to achieve 97 per cent of trains on time or within three minutes of it

All trains receiving internal sweeping and toilet cleansing overnight

Ilkley to Leeds peak frequency to be increased to four trains an hour

An earlier morning Leeds train to allow a connection into the London service

Use of IT to ensure that operators of connecting bus services are aware when trains are late

High-density lighting and CCTV at all stations.

MTL, which operated the Northern Spirit franchise, sold out to bus operator Arriva in February. But Arriva has agreed to operate the franchise for no longer than a year.

That leaves the Strategy Rail Authority the job of reshaping the franchise. The authority is currently looking at the franchise for the Trans-Pennine express and will then deal with local services.

A spokesman said: "We will be looking at a step change in improvements in terms of services to passengers."

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