A chance to end a rail fare anomaly which has led to traffic chaos around a district station must be grasped, according to a prospective parliamentary candidate.

John Grogan, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Keighley, said a new Northern Rail franchise for running services on the Airedale line from 2016 would give an opportunity for change and help address problems caused by North Yorkshire commuters driving into West Yorkshire to take advantage of cheaper fares.

“For the first time the franchise will be awarded not just by the Department of Transport but in partnership with Rail North, which brings together 33 northern councils,” he said.

“This should mean there is a much greater chance for local campaigners to influence the details of the franchise than ever before and could provide an answer to the long-standing fares problem.”