Fine warning over Wakefield stop

The summer timetable starts in May

Train passengers have been warned they face being fined if they attempt to get off at certain stations.

Virgin Trains has announced changes to some of its cross-country services which stop at Wakefield Westgate, in West Yorkshire.

From the summer, the station will be classed as "pick-up" only with passengers wishing to get off there being forced to leave the train 15 miles away in Leeds to catch a connecting service.

But commuters who take a chance and do disembark could be fined if they are spotted by station staff, the company says.

The changes will be advertised well so people know what the train stopping policy is

Virgin Trains spokesman

Ernie Preston, secretary of the Rail Passengers Council (RPC), said: "Passengers cannot physically be stopped from getting off when the doors open but if they are observed they have every chance of being fined for not having a valid ticket.

"It is odds on that you would be caught and fined up to £10."

Mr Preston admitted some passengers were likely to be caught out when changes come into force on 18 May.

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said it was normal practice to reduce congestion on busy services by banning passengers from getting off at some stations.

"The changes will be advertised well so people know what the train stopping policy is," he said.

"If passengers did alight at Wakefield they would not be in possession of a valid ticket and at the discretion of the train manager will be charged the excess fare from Leeds to Wakefield."

The services affected are the busy 1335GMT and 1435GMT Edinburgh to Bristol trains through Leeds.