HUDDERSFIELD Railway Station is among the top stations in Europe.

Huddersfield was highly commended at the International Station of the Year Awards.

The awards recognise railway stations across Europe for their appearance, customer facilities, transport links and commitment to providing great customer service.

But the station renovations haven’t gone down too well with everyone – a number of people have contacted the Examiner asking why the arrivals boards have disappeared.

And First said that because Huddersfield passengers were “unfamiliar with the railway” they’ve taken them away.

Steve Johnston, Huddersfield Station manager, said: “This has been a fantastic year for Huddersfield Railway Station.

“The renovations are now complete and not only represent a station that is designed for the benefit of our customers but one that retains it’s character and heritage.

“I am thrilled and very proud that we have received national and international recognition and I want to take this opportunity to thank colleagues at Huddersfield for their continued hard work and support.”

But in recent weeks four people have contacted the Examiner asking why the arrivals boards have been taken away.

One, Stephen Lawton, of Fixby, asked: “Why have they got rid of the arrivals boards? I pick my wife up everyday and always check on the time when I get there so I know I can wait for free if it’s on time or find somewhere else to park if there’s a delay, which there often is.

“I travel into Leeds and Manchester a lot and they have arrival boards, it makes no sense to take them away.”

Another man, who asked not to be named, complained to First and they told him: “We did have an arrivals board at Huddersfield originally, but this created some confusion for passengers unfamiliar with the railway as they took it as another departures board, so we took the decision to remove it.”

Steve Johnston explained: “Arrival boards at Huddersfield station have not been reinstated since the booking hall and other areas of the station have been refurbished.

“Station staff at Huddersfield have listened to feedback from customers, with the vast majority stating they didn’t really use the arrival boards.

“Huddersfield Station is a 24-hour operation with staff on hand both in the booking hall, on platforms and at the information office who are available to assist when any passenger enquiries.

“Customer facilities at Huddersfield are nationally recognised as excellent but we appreciate we cannot in this instance achieve every individual need.”

The Examiner has previously revealed Huddersfield is in line for major investment as part of a national £4.2bn package to improve rail services across the country. Final details of the investment will be revealed in January 2013 with work due to start the following year.

Some 15,000 passengers pass through the railway station every day, which has also been named the National Rail Station of the Year.

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