Two key train services for students and commuters have returned to the timetable after lobbying by a transport chief.

Two late afternoon/early evening services between Huddersfield and Dewsbury were dropped by TransPennine Express without warning last December.

The services, which reached Dewsbury at 4.09pm and 6.12pm, were particularly important for students from North Kirklees who attend Greenhead College in Huddersfield.

Clr Eric Firth, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for transport and a councillor for Dewsbury East, immediately approached TransPennine Express and worked with Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin in campaigning to get the services reinstated.

TransPennine Express announced in March that the services would be running again from May. New timetables come into operation on Sunday May 21.

Clr Firth said: “I’m thrilled to have those services back on track. Dropping two popular services at peak times would have had a big impact on local residents and workers, at a time when so much work is being done to improve rail connections for people in Kirklees.

“I know that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Mayor Tracy Brabin have also been working tirelessly to make sure these services are reinstated, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the result.

TransPennine Express accused of ‘abandoning’ Huddersfield and Dewsbury with train service cuts

“While we’re pleased that TransPennine Express has worked with us to reinstate these much-needed services, neither Kirklees Council nor the West Yorkshire Combined Authority had been consulted on the changes, and a simpler and more accountable rail system is needed to make sure issues like this don’t happen again.”

Clr Manisha Kaushik, deputy chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, added: “Without these services students and commuters would have been stuck with no trains to Dewsbury from Huddersfield for over an hour in the late afternoon peak.

“We will continue to use every opportunity to champion our region’s needs for better rail services and public transport.”