A new high-speed cross-Pennine rail service, due to pass through Brighouse, may not be able to stop at the town's station because its platforms are not long enough.

Rail campaigners were thrilled with the news that Brighouse station would be getting another service, but now travellers might not be able to use the service.

Brighouse has been highlighted as a stopping point by the York-based Grand Central Railway Company for its new service, due to start in May. It would run four daily trains in each direction between Wakefield Kirkgate and Manchester Victoria, before going on to Bolton and Preston.

Grand Central director Warren Breeze said the company was "actively investigating" the possibility of stopping its trains at Brighouse if the station could be adapted to the length of its trains.

"We are talking to interested parties about how that station can accommodate the service. The size of the platforms is the principle issue but there are potential solutions," he said.

Peter Davies, chairman of the Yorkshire branch of rail campaign group Railfuture, said: "I live in Brighouse and will be campaigning to try and ensure trains will stop here. It will provide four extra trains to Leeds, albeit via Wakefield, but with high-speed trains it won't add a great deal on to the journey time. It will also provide a direct link to Wakefield, which Brighouse has not had since the last station closed in 1970."

A spokesman for Metro said it had asked Grand Central for further details of its proposals to run a rail service between Newcastle and Manchester via West Yorkshire. One of the company's proposed stops is Brighouse station, which was opened by Metro in 2000.

He said Metro developed Brighouse to the national standard specification for a local station, which means its platforms are suitable for trains up to four cars in length. Further discussion of Grand Central's plans, for which the company is seeking approval from the Office of the Rail Regulator, would therefore need to take place.

Councillor Colin Stout (Ind, Brighouse) said the new service was good news for the town.

"This would mean regeneration and an expansion of commuter links into Brighouse," he said. "It's got to be an advantage for the town and it means more people could leave their cars at home and use public transport."