The Government has confirmed plans for a new station at Bradford Interchange, with delivery expected in the 2030s as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
The station will replace Bradford’s existing 1970s facility and is intended to provide more frequent services, shorter journey times and improved reliability between the city and major urban centres including Leeds, Manchester and York.
Regeneration potential
The Government said the project would help unlock the regeneration of Bradford’s Southern Gateway. Delivered alongside the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit system, the station could support thousands of new homes and jobs and generate up to £1bn in economic benefits.
Bradford is expected to sit at the centre of the NPR network, which the Government says will provide a “turn-up-and-go” service, with trains frequent enough that passengers will not need to consult a timetable before travelling.
The new station will form part of Great British Railways (GBR), the planned publicly owned organisation intended to bring track and train operations together.
Local and national backing
The station location was agreed with Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire. The decision forms part of the Government’s Northern Growth Strategy, which includes electrification and upgrades to routes linking Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Today marks an important milestone for Bradford with a brand-new station that will transform how people travel across the North.
“By bringing Northern Powerhouse Rail into the heart of the city, we are unlocking the huge potential Bradford offers – improving connections, supporting economic growth and setting the foundations for new homes, jobs and opportunities across the region.”
Brabin said the decision represented an “iron clad commitment” to a new city-centre station and would help support the transformation of Bradford through the city’s proposed City Village development.
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the decision represented a long-term commitment to Bradford and the wider North, adding that regeneration could deliver homes and jobs that might not otherwise come to the city.