MORE funding for railway improvements has been announced and it’s good news for Huddersfield.

Not only have expansion plans been announced for the town’s main railway station, but smaller stations could be re-opened as part of the Government’s spending plans.

Many would agree that more money needs to be spent on improving the rail network and the Government should be congratulated for making it available.

More carriages, more links, quicker trains and cheaper fares are preferable. Supporters of places like Golcar and Milnsbridge can also bid to get local stations back in use.

MP Barry Sheerman welcomes the news that Huddersfield is part of the £4.2bn package, but wonders why we must wait until 2014 for the work to even begin.

Everyone understands that major works take time to plan, passengers should be asked what improvements they’d like to see and station staff should be consulted, but the MP has a point.

It will be 2014 before any work even begins. If these improvements are needed, why not bring the work forward?

It will generate jobs, boost spending and the knock-on effect of encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and use trains will also come about sooner.

Let’s start the planning now and make using the railway network in and around Huddersfield better and quicker.