'Train tickets should be cheaper during disruption'

Mohammed Basharat has called for cheaper rail fares while disruption is ongoing

Commuters have given their views on a month's worth of travel disruption after Huddersfield Station closed for 30 days for refurbishment. During the work Brighouse Station will be the last stop for trains which would normally continue to Huddersfield.

Among those waiting was Mohammed Basharat who had an earlier start than usual.

He said the disruption would add an hour to his journey to and from work.

The 38-year-old usually travels from Huddersfield to Selby but had driven to Brighouse to catch a train from there.

He admitted the work would be "worthwhile" if it improved his usual journey in the long run but called for changes to the "extortionate" cost of travel in the meantime.

"With all this disruption they should discount the tickets or keep the prices a little bit more affordable for people."

Engineers are carrying out work to improve the station and its facilities while also making it more accessible, with a planned reopening date of Monday 29 September.

Diversions and rail replacement buses will be in place throughout the work.

Emily Coull says the disruption will be worth it in the long run

Speaking while she waited for her train to Leeds from Brighouse, 24-year-old Emily Coull said she supported the closure in spite of the short-term pain it would bring.

"Long-term, it definitely will be a good thing.

"There's a lot of different routes that go through Huddersfield, especially the train to Manchester. Short-term it's an inconvenience and everyone from Huddersfield is having to get a bus replacement.

"A month is a long time, but long-term I think the system will be improved so it's probably worth it."

30-year-old Conn-ah Norman was also at the station and said he had mixed feelings about the changes.

"There's replacement bus services, but obviously you can't get bicycles on the bus and there's limited spaces. It does affect most people."

Mr Norman said the upgrades would benefit "a lot of people" in Yorkshire and beyond and welcomed "greener, faster" trains in future, but the cost of travel was also on his mind.

"Whether they reduce the train fares for everyone, that's a different question."

Conn-ah Norman has welcomed "greener, faster" trains in future

The work is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade and will involve the reconstruction and extension of platforms to accommodate longer trains, as well as strengthening Huddersfield viaduct and upgrading tracks and signalling.

"A programme of this scale inevitably brings some disruption, but we've worked closely with our colleagues at Northern and TransPennine Express to keep people moving while minimising the impact wherever possible," said Paul Sumner, senior sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Extra staff would be on hand throughout the work to provide help and support to customers, he added.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.