Calls have been made for Boxing Day trains to be introduced in the Bradford district and across West Yorkshire.

A lack of rail services on December 26 has been criticised by John Grogan, who will contest Keighley for Labour at the next General Election.

He said: “All our major European neighbours run trains over the holiday period but other than on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway there will not be a single service running in Yorkshire on Boxing Day.

“People wanting to go on the famous 'Mince Pie Specials', which start on Boxing Day on the Worth Valley line, should be able to reach the town from the rest of the North of England by train. It is ridiculous also that Manchester Airport on December 26 – which is its busiest day in the whole year for passengers and flights – cannot be reached by train.”

The Rail Delivery Group, which speaks on behalf of operators, said trains would be running in some areas.

But it said: “Operating all services would mean keeping the entire network staffed and running for a fraction of the number of passengers that normally travel, and taxpayers would pick up much of the cost.”