Rail campaigners want to see improved services in and out of Brighouse.
Officials of HADRAG, the Halifax & District Rail Action Group, welcomed the Northern train franchise proposals but called on bidders to fill gaps.
They want extra fast trains for the Calder Valley Line to Manchester Airport and Chester, and more for the Brighouse Line, with more Sunday services.
Stephen Waring, who chairs the group, said it was good news that bidders for the Northern franchise would have to provide brand new trains to replace the hated Pacer units across the North of England.
He said the “railbus”-type Pacer trains, nearing 30 years old and by general agreement unfit for modern service, are commonly seen on the Calder Valley line both on regular services on the Bradford-Halifax-Brighouse-Huddersfield route and strengthening peak-hour Manchester-Leeds trains.
There had been a fear that former London Underground trains could have been fitted with diesel engines to replace Pacers on some Northern routes. with 35 year-old rains now coming out of service on the capital’s District Line have been acquired by Warwickshire company Vivarail to make the “D-trains”. Some campaigners have dubbed them “Crawlers” because they can only do a maximum 60mph compared with at least 75 or 90mph for existing stock used by Northern Rail.
Mr Waring said “The new instruction seems clearly to rule out both the Vivarail to fit former D-trains, and the refurbishment of some Pacers that has been planned by train leasing company Porterbrook. Making do with cast off or life-extended vehicles would have been an insult to Northern train users.
“The decision of the DfT and Rail North apparently to rule out either of those options is a triumph for months of campaigning by HADRAG and other groups.
“We are looking forward to modern trains that are real pleasure for people to travel on, with things like free wi-fi, tables to work on, and good views out of the window as well high quality access for all and plenty of provision for luggage and bikes.”
He said the group also wanted a better deal for Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge – and more trains on Sundays.
“We want a better deal for the Brighouse line, with faster journeys on the Manchester-Brighouse-Leeds route and improved links between Calderdale and Huddersfield.
“We also want more frequent Sunday services, starting earlier in the day to cater for people who need to go to work – or just go shopping!
“The present 2-hourly Sunday service at Brighouse station will be doubled to hourly, but HADRAG says even more is needed. The Sunday service proposed for Brighouse will still be the indirect Huddersfield-Bradford-Leeds route – OK for local journeys but a long way round for Leeds with no direct link to Manchester. HADRAG wants Sunday services on the direct Manchester-Rochdale-Dewsbury-Leeds route."
