PASSENGERS have had their through trains scrapped - to make way for new Virgin services.

The reason behind the move was revealed as protests continue over the axing of the direct Manchester-Wakefield service through Huddersfield.

Transport chiefs said Richard Branson's Virgin train company had changed its timetable, leaving limited slots available at Wakefield Westgate station.

Furious Kirklees councillor Martyn Bolt said: "It seems that Westgate can't cope with the demands of modern passenger transport.

"They should be looking changing that, rather than disrupting the lives of people who use the trains."

From last week, passengers wanting to get to Wakefield from Colne Valley stations have to change trains in Huddersfield.

Clr Bolt said many people would switch to cars to avoid the disruption to their journey.

And Metro, which oversees public transport in West Yorkshire, has protested.

It has emerged that the shake-up was made on the orders of the Strategic Rail Authority.

Bosses at the SRA made the move because the Virgin changes sparked "platform availability problems".

They said few people would be affected, as only 32 passengers a day used the direct service, an average of two a train.

Clr Bolt said: "Presumably, those 32 come back as well, which makes 64 passenger journeys a day, 320 a week and 15,360 journeys a year.

"Many people aren't going to put up with this and will transfer to the car."

A Metro spokesman said: "We have raised our concerns about the split.

"But the Strategic Rail Authority would not move," he added.