One of 16 new trains to run along the Airedale and Wharfedale lines was unveiled today at Leeds City Station.

The train, part of a £120 million package for Northern Spirit, will carry passengers along the Leeds-Bradford-Ilkley-Skipton corridors.

The Class 333 three-car model, with a top speed of 100mph, air conditioning and power operated doors, went on public view for the first time.

And Tim Calow, of the Aire Valley Rail Users Group, welcomed the new rolling stock.

"It has been long-awaited and we think it will encourage a lot more people to use the train and hopefully take some cars off the road," he said.

"These new trains are more comfortable and not bumpy like the 35-year-old 'slam door' trains which are used at the moment."

Northern Spirit managing director Nigel Patterson said: "Our customers will see from the superb quality of the new train on show today that there is a change on the way for our services.

"We are delighted that Siemens have delivered ahead of schedule ready for us to provide a new level of customer care.

"These are a new generation of electric trains. They are part of the delivery of our franchise commitment and our determination to continue to upgrade services."

The new trains were also welcomed by Nick Lyons, chairman of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.

"We always stressed that new rolling stock was an integral part of the Leeds-Bradford electrification scheme and it was made a condition in signing up to the franchise."

A criticism by rail users' groups was that commuter trains were overcrowded. And since 1995 the demand for rail in the region has grown by ten per cent each year.

The new models will seat 260 passengers, and half of the fleet will get an extra carriage next year to carry a total of 362 people.

The grant for extra carriages will come from the Government's Shadow Strategic Rail Authority after a successful joint bid by Northern Spirit and Metro.

The new trains will have to undergo rigorous tests and clock up 30,000 miles before they can carry passengers.

The first train is expected to start service in December.

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