ATTENTION must be given to improving day-to-day rail services on the Airedale line as the Government takes over the running of the Northern network, it is claimed.

Tim Calow, chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users’ Group, says service reliability and peak-time overcrowding need to be addressed.

The problems have long plagued the route.

"These are still going to be the big issues," he said.

"We have got to push for extra capacity on the line.

"It's not clear at the moment what improvement there will be following the Government's announcement or how the issues will be addressed.

"Ironically, Northern has actually been doing better since the start of the year."

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said today that the Government would take over the operating of services on the Northern network from March 1.

He added that there was a commitment to delivering "real and tangible improvements" across the network as quickly as possible.

“This is a new beginning for Northern – but it is only a beginning," he said.

“Northern's network is huge and complex and some of the things which are wrong are not going to be quick or easy to put right.

“The railways were invented in the north. Last year the Prime Minister promised that we would give the railway back to the places it was born, giving more power over services, fares and stations to local leaders.

"This marks the first small step towards the north taking back control of its railways and its people taking back control of their travelling lives."

Mr Shapps said the move would not affect the jobs of Northern staff or result in any changes to fares.