RAIL users were livid this week when more than a hundred people were left standing on platforms at Guiseley and Baildon stations because a morning rush-hour train was too full to take them.

Angry commuters were stunned when the 7.36am train into Leeds Station on Tuesday was so packed that no more than half a dozen people managed to squeeze on board at Guiseley, leaving nearly 100 commuters behind.

An earlier Leeds to Shipley train had broken down when it developed an electrical problem at Kirkstall, which led to a following train being cancelled as the track was cleared.

The incident has sparked fears that the aging rail stock used on the Wharfedale line will continue to break down until it is replaced next year -- and that could mean a repeat of Tuesday's chaos.

Derrick Joanes from the Wharfedale Rail Users' Network, said that although Tuesday's incident was rare, he said the age of trains on the Wharfedale Line was becoming a major problem.

"Normally passengers can squeeze their way on at Guiseley and Tuesday was a rare occurrence, but the popularity of the train is growing, and the only way to meet demand is by improving the train stock.

"The stock that is being used now dates from 1961 and is more prone to breaking down. New rolling stock is promised for next year and we're hoping things will improve. Until that time, there could be more incidents like this."

One former Guiseley Station user, who asked not to be named, said: "I always had to stand and sometimes had difficulty getting on board. You would be packed in so much that it was uncomfortable.

"Ticket conductors could never get around everyone and you often had to join a lengthy queue at Leeds City Station to buy a ticket after your journey."

Rail user Olwen Vasey, of Heatherside, Baildon, said more than 50 people were left on the platform at Baildon station when the 7.02am and 7.32am trains failed to arrive.

"No announcement was made and when a train did come it was jam packed. We were squashed in like sardines and it was worrying from a safety point of view.

"It was so packed that the guard could not get around to collect ticket money."

Coun Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale), said: "I have been contacted by dozens of angry Guiseley people about this. If this is going to be a regular problem, more coaches will be needed.

"Northern Spirit tells me the new rolling stock is due in summer 2000 but only has 26 more seats in a three-coach train. The new trains certainly look good, are comfortable and will hopefully be more reliable.

"But if they continue packing us in like sardines we need a big rethink on train size, or all the time, effort and money spent on encouraging people to use trains will be wasted.

"There is nothing as discouraging as being unable to get on a train because it is full. Publicity saying 'use public transport' is almost too successful and we must make sure that we have the infrastructure to cope with it."

A spokeswoman for train operators Northern Spirit said: "We very much regret the inconvenience to passengers. We are looking forward to the arrival of our new trains by December 2000, which will be able to transport more people in greater comfort.

"Until then we are continuing our high level maintenance scheme on existing trains which will maintain the reliability of those trains at the highest level."

She said that in West Yorkshire, train reliability was at 99.5 per cent - "a high level by anyone's standards," she added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.