PASSENGERS are less happy with train travel, a major survey has revealed.

And operators running services through Huddersfield, Mirfield and Brighouse, have all seen a fall in overall customer satisfaction levels.

The spring 2013 survey by rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus showed that only one UK train operator had improved its overall satisfaction levels since spring, 2012.

Northern Rail, which runs trains from Huddersfield to Sheffield, shared bottom place with south-east operator First Capital Connect for overall customer satisfaction at 76%. For Northern, that’s 4% down on the last survey for autumn, 2012, and for spring, 2012.

First TransPennine Express had an overall satisfaction level of 85% – down by 3% on last autumn and by 3% for spring, 2012.

Grand Central, which runs trains from Bradford to London via Brighouse and Mirfield, achieved a 93% rating, although that is down by 3% on last autumn. The company did not feature in the spring, 2012, survey.

Peter Marshall, of the Huddersfield Penistone Sheffield Rail Users’ Association, said the figured reflected the experiences of passengers on local routes.

He said: “Passenger numbers are increasing and it is becoming increasingly clear that on some trains it is getting unpleasant and stressful to travel by train because it is so busy.

“On some journeys, it is standing room only and people are not confident that they will either get on a train or be able to buy a ticket because they are so busy the ticket collector cannot get to them.

“That all contributes to people feeling less satisfied with rail travel.”

Mr Marshall said the local rail franchises were sold on the assumption that passenger numbers would not grow – whereas there had been a 5% rise since 2004. “It just shows that we have not been given sufficient capacity,” he added.

Nationally, the survey showed that the percentage of passengers satisfied with their journey overall was 82% in spring, 2012, compared with 85% last autumn and 83% in spring, 2012.

Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: “Passengers faced variable performance in the early part of 2013.

“There continues to be a wide gap between the better and weaker performing services – satisfaction with individual operators ranges from 76% to 95%.”

The only company to improve its passenger overall satisfaction level was Greater Anglia with a figure of 77% against 73% last time.

The highest-scoring company was First Hull Trains with 95%.