A TRAIN operator has apologised after scores of people hoping to travel to Huddersfield to see the Olympic Torch Relay were left standing on station platforms.

Northern Rail was criticised for under-estimating demand on the Sheffield to Huddersfield line on Sunday morning.

One traveller, who asked not to be named, said the train calling at Denby Dale at 10.15am was already full by the time it reached the station.

“I managed to prise myself in to get on the train,” he said. “But a lot of people weren’t able to get on.

“At Stocksmoor there were 30 to 40 people waiting to get on – about half of them children. Although the train let a few people off, no-one was able to get on. It was the same at every station from there to Huddersfield.”

He said: “Kirklees Council was advising people to use public transport to get to the Torch Relay, but it’s pointless if public transport can’t cope. It was a once in a lifetime event for these children and they missed it.”

A spokeswoman for Northern Rail said the company was restricted to running trains of three carriages by the length of station platforms and had been unable to run a more frequent service because of engineering works at the southern end of the line.

She said: “We would apologise to anyone who tried to get on the train and couldn’t or had an uncomfortable journey as a result.”