If agreed, the plans would put in place four daily services from Huddersfield station to London Kings Cross, stopping at Mirfield and in South Yorkshire along the way.

Currently, Mirfield passengers wanting to travel to London have to change at Wakefield or Leeds for a connecting service.

The Grand Union railway company, which is aiming to create more direct rail links between West Yorkhire and the capital, has proposed the plans.

The company has already introduced a link between Sunderland and the capital which has proved popular with passengers.

Grand Union managing director Ian Yeowart said: "We have always believed that West Yorkshire is under represented when it comes to trains to London and Mirfield encompasses a very good catchment area in our view. We thought it would offer a good opportunity to provide a service to the area to a good market. We have to make a strong business case, which is why we are particular about the routes we choose.

"We have still got a lot of work to do and we are talking to the local authority and the public to get their support. We are currently working with Network Rail to find the available capacity and we will be doing some development work in the second half of this year. We expect to make the formal submission to them in January 2009 with a view to running in December 2009.

"West Yorkshire isn't just Leeds and Wakefield. It's too easy for people to think Leeds as the only part of West Yorkshire. It's a case of overcoming this. People have to look elsewhere."

Alan Haigh, West Yorkshire spokesman from the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "I think this will be a good thing for everybody. Mirfield now has a good train service from Leeds and even Hebden Bridge so people could commute to and from Mirfield without having to go to Leeds – it is a good alternative."