Arriva's elusive trains are to get a smart new look.

West Yorkshire Transport chiefs, who awarded the franchise for the district's beleaguered rail services to the company, say they want to "increase their presence" in the new livery which will be in the red and silver Metro corporate colours.

The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority Rail Working Group yesterday agreed the facelift for some of Arriva Trains Northern's older units which are due for repainting.

The cost of the work will be met by Arriva, which will also be asked to produce a detailed design.

The working group previously agreed a red and silver livery for the class 333 super trains which started running last year on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.

However, the design of the super trains featured the name of Northern Spirit, the previous operators.

But officers told the group: "Subsequent experience suggests that it would be desirable to strengthen our own Metro branding, rather than the train operator's company brand, which may change in refranchising or renaming."

The new design will include Metro's 'M' logo on the front and sides although the rolling stock will remain red and silver like the super trains. But Councillor Ann Ozolins (Lib Dem, Idle), a member of the working group, said: "I think the priority should be in getting services running - and not what the trains look like. It seems ridiculous. It's a case of nice trains, but what about the services?"

The trains will be given a facelift as Arriva slashes hundreds of services because it says there is a severe shortage of drivers. Some services across the district have been axed and other replaced by buses until the company is fully staffed.

The company, which announced £50 million half-year profits last month, was fined £9 million in March because of its poor performance.