Rail bosses have publicly apologised to Wharfedale commuters and pledged to improve information systems after passengers were left out in the cold in the bad weather earlier this month.

But they have apparently ignored calls for compensation from the chairman of a passenger group who described some of Northern Rail’s technology as ‘useless’.

Peter Wilkinson, of the Wharfedale Rail Users’ Group (WRUG), demanded a public apology and compensation for regular travellers from Northern Rail’s managing director.

Some passengers were caught in two-hour delays and left without up-to-date travel information when train services were hit by the snow and ice.

Although Northern has apologised for the breakdown of information systems, and assured passengers it has already made changes to keep them better informed, no mention has been made of any compensation.

Mr Wilkinson wrote to Northern Rail managing director Ian Bevan asking for the apology and settlement for regular travellers, such as a three-day extension to season tickets.

He described the customer information screens as “useless” during the disruption.

“For most of this time, announcements were either totally absent or merely reported a litany of cancelled trains,” he told Northern.

The Wharfedale Line did not see a return to satisfactory service until December 8, he said.

Mr Wilkinson said: “As our users will shortly be paying around seven per cent more for their journeys, cannot some of this additional revenue be used to ensure that their journeys will be improved in periods of future bad weather?”

Steve Butcher, Northern Rail’s chief operating officer, said: “Unfortunately, we did experience some difficulties; these have now been resolved and passengers will receive consistent, accurate and up-to-date train running information.”