There is little doubt that trains can play a huge part in freeing up our crowded roads.
Could anyone get from Hebden Bridge to Brighouse in 17 minutes or Brighouse to Leeds in a little more than 20 minutes by road? Of course not. But you can by train.
The problem now, as highlighted in the Courier's Let's Get Moving investigation, is
their frequency and cost.
Next week Halifax and District Rail Action Group holds its annual meeting. It is campaigning harder than ever for vital extensions to services that will help make trains the transport of choice for more people.
It wants an increased service on the Bradford, Halifax, Manchester route and the Hebden Bridge to Leeds daytime service to be extended to Todmorden and beyond to Manchester.
It also wants a new station at Elland, so the town's community is given the opportunity to leave their cars at home.
The meeting will be addressed by Ian Yeowart of Grand Central/Grand Union Railway, which is bidding to run direct services to London from Halifax and Brighouse. Now that really would be something.
The Government wants to get people on to public transport. The rail companies want more passengers. Surely between them they can give us a rail network fit for the 21st century.
The knock-on effect could be quite dramatic.
The full article contains 229 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
