A FLEET of new electric trains which will serve the Wharfedale railway line from next week have been unveiled.

The Class 331 electric trains will run along the Skipton and Ilkley lines through Bradford and to Leeds, making Bradford one of the first areas in the north to benefit from the new electric trains.

The first train will officially run along the line on Monday, September 9, offering passengers a quicker, more spacious and more modern travel experience.

The state-of-the-art trains have a bigger capacity and also have the mod-cons expected on a new train, including Wi-Fi and plug sockets.

Two of the new trains will run all day every day along the route, and Northern said if you use the route there is a “good chance” you will ride in one of the new carriages, and it said it will “gradually introduce more and more over time”.

One of the new trains was unveiled to stakeholders and invited guests at Bradford Forster Square station on Tuesday morning, before making the journey to Skipton and back to give guests a chance to ride on the new trains.

Stephen Hopkinson, regional director for Yorkshire at Northern, said bringing the new trains to Bradford was an exciting moment.

“The trains have been implemented on other lines but this is the first time they will be in Bradford,” he said. “This is one of our most important routes, especially looking at the economic growth of Bradford, and we want to help and complement that growth.

“The Class 333 trains which are predominantly on this route are still good trains and we are refurbishing them, but the new trains bring additional capacity and more room and everything around the train is state-of-the-art technology. The light and the surroundings should make it a very enjoyable experience for our passengers.”

The new trains are part of a £500 million investment by Northern, which are faster and will enable older trains to be taken off the rails.

Ben Still, managing director of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, added: “In recent years, the infrastructure and passenger satisfaction on our trains has not been where it needs to be.

“This the beginning of a new era for public transport, and Northern leaders, such as the chair of WYCA Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, have played a big part in this.

“We have taken a joined up approach to improve things when faced with a number of challenges, and put passenger experience at the heart of rail transport. This is the beginning of a roll out of 100 new trains across the county, and Bradford will be a key beneficiary.

“This is important for the connectivity in Bradford. What Northern needs now is investment in infrastructure and we hope the industry will come together to help achieve that.”