A COLNE Valley pressure group is calling a public meeting about rail services in the area.

Slaithwaite and Marsden Action on Rail Transport are holding the meeting at Slaithwaite Community Centre at 6.30pm on December 8.

The aim is to get answers to questions about rail companies' performance and new timetables

Train passengers have raised these and several other issues during the past year.

Smart members have protested several times about adjustments to the timetable of First North Western services and the use of inaccessible platforms at Marsden station.

They are keen to find out how train services will be affected by Anglo-Dutch consortium Serco-Ned taking over the franchise from First North Western.

Smart member and meeting organiser Tony Bowers, said: "In an attempt to elicit useful information from the people who control our trains we have called a public meeting.

"I hope they will be able to provide some answers about the current performance of the train services up and down the Colne Valley as well as future plans."

Smart has invited the following people to the meeting:

John Henkel from West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive; Vernon Barker, managing director of First Trains; Natasha Quraishy of the Strategic Rail Authority; Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford; Holme Valley North Kirklees Clr Marie Bower, who sits on the WYPTE board and Colne Valley Kirklees Clr Gordon Beever.