FRIGHTENED Ilkley rail passengers have been abandoning their train in mid journey because of safety fears.

Ilkley parish councillor Joyce Galling likened the early morning Ilkley to Leeds service as a 'cattle wagon' with passengers crammed into far too few carriages.

Coun Galling said she had received a report of commuters abandoning their journey on two occasions this week because they were unhappy at the number of people crammed in - and simply did not feel it was safe to continue their journey.

She said: "People already on the train were not happy that more and more people were trying to get onto the train at stops further down the line."

"They did not think it was safe to have that many people on the train and they decided to leave as a result," said Coun Galling.

Coun Galling said the problems had arisen when commuters discovered two early morning Leeds-bound trains had been reduced to one.

"We, as a parish council must seek an urgent response from Northern Spirit about this issue," she said.

Coun Galling said questions must be asked if anyone was actually monitoring the number of passengers on a particular train.

Her concerns have been echoed by parish councillor Amanda Clarke, who has also raised the issue of passenger numbers with Northern Spirit.

"I have yet to receive the courtesy of a reply," she said.

Rail operator Northern Spirit was denied any passengers have been put at risk because of cancellations.

Howard Keal, press officer for Northern Spirit, said: "I can say there is no question of a single train wheel turning if there is any doubt whatsoever about safety."

"There is a conductor on every train and if they are not completely satisfied about the number of passengers, the train will not leave the platform," he said.

Mr Keal said Northern Spirit would take possession of new rolling stock in December this year as part of a £120 million scheme.

"These new trains will feature more seats and more room generally," he said. Mr Keal hoped a partnership with Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, would yield funding from the government's Shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) to provide an extra eight carriages for the new fleet of trains. Those extra carriages should be in use by 2001, he said.

He said Northern Spirit was acting to meet passenger demand. He said passenger numbers were rising by 10 per cent, year on year.

Coun Galling said it was important the parish council raised the issue now, rather than in the aftermath of an accident she hoped would never happen.

Derrick Joanes, secretary of the Wharfedale Rail Users Group, said: "It is uncomfortable but not unsafe."

However, Mr Joanes said WRUG members were not entirely happy with Northern Spirit.

"We are concerned about the deterioration in reliability over the last couple of weeks," he said.

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