Leeds commuter trains get 2,000 extra seats

Commuter trains in West Yorkshire are to get an extra 2,000 seats, the government has announced.

The Department for Transport said the extra seats would be provided in 20 more carriages for Leeds services.

The extra carriages will be used during peak times, providing seating and standing room for an extra 3,173 passengers each day.

The additional carriages will be used on services from Leeds to Skipton, Ilkley, Doncaster and Wakefield.

'Britain's future'

Services from Leeds to Manchester Victoria and Bradford Forster Square will also be lengthened from December.

It is anticipated an extra 1,907 people will be able to use the services during the morning rush hour and 1,266 during the evening.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Even at a time of severe pressure on public spending we cannot afford not to invest in Britain's future and that's why we are investing more than £10m in providing these extra carriages for Yorkshire commuters."

Metro Chairman Chris Greaves said: "This will be very good news for the many people who have to travel on overcrowded commuter services every day.

New stations

"While this is very welcome news, I am conscious that other routes also suffer from overcrowding and I hope that further additional carriages will be secured in the near future."

Mr Greaves said it was also hoped the extra seating would help Metro's proposals for new stations at Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge and Low Moor.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus said the announcement was "good news".

"Overcrowding has been an ongoing issue for passengers travelling on this part of the rail network for too long.

"These extra carriages will go a long way to alleviating the problem."

The carriages are part of 650 the government has announced it will introduce on routes across the UK by 2014.