Financial penalties have been imposed on train operator Northern Spirit because of its poor services.

The West Yorkshire Passen-ger Transport Executive, which contracts out the services, has the power to withhold funding, if they are found to be unsatisfactory.

A meeting of Bradford Passenger Consultative Com-mittee today was being told that the company is receiving "significant financial penalties" as a result of its poor performance.

But Kieran Preston, director general of the passenger transport executive, which operates under the name Metro, admits in a report to the meeting that the penalties "will not assist passengers suffering daily inconvenience".

The committee was due to be told that in the two weeks up to the beginning of March, seven per cent of Metro trains were cancelled and only three quarters of them arrived within five minutes of the time they should have done.

In his report Mr Preston says the main reason given by Northern Spirit for the poor performance is that it has limited access to its maintenance workshop because of the redevelopment of Leeds station by Railtrack.

The company says there has also been a staff shortage and late delivery of new trains.

In the report, Mr Preston also tells committee members the inadequate information given to passengers is also a cause for serious concern, particularly during disruption, and North-ern Spirit is working on an improvement project.

A Northern Spirit spokesman said today he could not comment on any financial aspects.

But he added: "Our performance is affected by the situation at Leeds.

"We have been going through a very difficult period as a result of this massive project and it inevitably has a knock-on effect.

"Given the circumstances, we have managed extremely well, and we will continue to do everything we possibly can.

"The level of penalties is an issue for us and the Passenger Transport Executive."

Councillor John Prestage, chairman of the committee said: "It simply isn't good enough. Northern Spirit should give us the service we expect.

"To make it worse for working people, the worst affected trains are first thing in the morning and teatime."