A shortage of train drivers and rolling stock is causing more misery for Bradford rail travellers.

Trains are being cancelled regularly because of the shortages and teething problems with new trains are adding to the months of chaos caused by the redevelopment of Leeds station.

One passenger, Lynette Gooderham-Fickes, 33, of Allerton, who suffers from ME, claims the poor service from Frizinghall to Leeds is causing her health to deteriorate and has forced her to rearrange her work hours to avoid rush hour traffic.

"If I stand around at stations waiting for delayed services or if I stand in a cramped train, I become very weak."

Mrs Gooderham-Fickes, a training consultant for Norwich Union in Leeds, has also complained that station staff do not appear to receive up-to-date information. Once she had to leave a train unexpectedly at Shipley when its destination was changed from Bradford Forster Square to Skipton.

The Reverend Geoff Reid, a member of Bradford Passen-ger Consultative Committee, said: "There are cancellations and some very old trains are still in use because there are not enough new ones.

"I am sure there is an accident waiting to happen because of overcrowding.

"The re-organisation at Leeds station is well under way but logistics such as staffing levels and train times still have a long way to go.

"The excuse of having no driver is now a daily occurrence."

In a letter to Mrs Gooderham-Fickes, Metro - the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive - acknowledges that Arriva Trains Northern which runs local train services is experiencing major problems.

"Arriva is experiencing particular operating problems at the moment with serious shortages of both train crew and rolling stock, also teething problems with the new electric trains and delays arising from Railtrack's engineering work and infrastructure failures at Leeds.

"However, we expect operators to provide a high quality service at all times with full and correct information to passengers and a high standard of customer care.

"Clearly this has not been the case.

"Arriva is attempting to address its problems."

In a letter of apology to Mrs Gooderham-Fickes a spokes-man for Arriva Trains Northern said: "I can assure you there is no question of complacency on our part and we will continue to exert all our efforts to make best use of existing resources while awaiting full return on the investments made in infrastructure, rolling stock and recruitment."