RAIL fares for passengers on the Wharfedale Line were frozen as main line tickets went up in price this week.

Operator Arriva Trains Northern, which runs rail services from Ilkley to Leeds and Bradford, pledged to keep a freeze on the price of its rail tickets, despite rises rail fare costs on many main line services.

Several main line train operators decided to increase their fares - particularly for passengers travelling on the day of ticket purchase - from the New Year.

But Arriva, which operates all trains calling at Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Burley-in-Wharfe-dale, Menston and Guiseley, says many local passengers have been inconvenienced by disruptions to the service in recent months.

Managing director Ray Price said: "Our fares are reviewed annually.

"However, we fully appreciate the inconvenience that service disruptions have caused our customers and have decided to freeze our fares.

"One of the key issues has been the shortage of train drivers. We have launched one of the largest driver recruitment and training programmes ever seen in the industry, to address the issue and provide the level of service that our customers expect and deserve."

He claimed that when the franchise to run the services was awarded, it was underfunded, there was a backlog of maintenance, insufficient employees, and a shortage of drivers.