RAIL commuters were yesterday

presented with a vision of the future as they arrived to work on the clapped-out, smelly old bone-shakers they have grown used to travelling on.

Sitting on the lines at Leeds railway station ready for the official unveiling was an example of the new rolling stock which should come into service in December.

Sixteen new trains are being built in a £120 million deal to replace the 35-year-old carriages on the Leeds-Bradford-Ilkley-Skipton Corridor.

Air conditioning, a top speed of 100 mph, rapid acceleration and power operated doors are just standard features of the new Class 333.

The official unveiling ceremony was performed by train operator Northern Spirit's managing director Nigel Patterson and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority chairman Councillor Mike Lyons.

Members of Ilkley Civic Society and the Wharfedale Rail Users Group (WRUG) were also present at the ceremony in Leeds. Chairman of WRUG Helen Kidman was not able to attend the ceremony because of work commitments but she glimpsed the new train as she ended her commuter

journey at Leeds.

"The new train is badly needed but it does not cure one of the problems which is over capacity. It will not help the people who board in Guiseley and have to stand on the way in most of the time," said Mrs Kidman.

She said although the new trains will have slightly more room that

the present units, the problem of

overcrowding would not be sorted out for at least 18 months when improvement at the junctions at the West End of Leeds Station will allow more frequent services.

Mrs Kidman said of the new trains: "It is a vote of confidence for people on the line who will be able to see improvements being made. It is a commitment to improvement that wasn't there 15 years ago. We need to get rid of these clapped-out bone-shakers which are pretty unpleasant."

Mrs Kidman said that the latest problem affecting the present trains was caused by windows that won't stay shut. When it rains the upholstery gets wet making life unpleasant for passengers and causing offensive smells in the carriage.

Mr Patterson said that the new trains, manufactured by Siemens, will go through months of exhaustive tests before starting in service in December.

Mr Paterson said: "Our customers will see from the superb quality of the new train on show today that there is a step change on the way for our services. These are a new generation of electric trains."

Coun Lyons said: "It is a pleasure to be welcoming the new trains and we look forward to seeing them in service from the autumn."

Shipley and Burley Labour MP Chris Leslie has also welcomed the arrival of the new trains. He said that the new rolling stock and the £165 million works to improve Leeds Station would mean 'vastly improved services for the Whafedale line in the near future'.

Since 1995 demand for rail travel in West Yorkshire has grown by 10 per cent a year and a successful bid has been made for funding to provide eight of the new trains with an extra carriage.

Northern Spirit and Metro won backing from the strategic rail authority to increase half the new fleet from three to four cars next year on peak time services.

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