Forty years after rail station shut - new one is set to open

The original railway station closed in 1965 and residents in South Bradford, along with ward councillors, have been pushing hard for a replacement station for years.

Metro staff will be on-hand to answer questions at Oakenshaw Veteran’s Bowling Club, Cleckheaton Road, Bradford, between 2pm and 7pm on Friday, and between 10am and 1pm on Saturday.

Metro, which organises transport in West Yorkshire, is planning to build the new station, on the Caldervale Line between Bradford Interchange and Halifax, in partnership with Network Rail, Northern Rail and Bradford Council.

The station would be located on Cleckheaton Road, on land owned by the council, off New Works Road, would be served by two trains per hour in each direction and include:

fully-accessible platforms with footbridge and ramps;

approximately 100 car parking spaces, with dedicated disabled persons parking bays;

passenger information displays and public address system;

modern waiting shelters and CCTV.

There will also be direct access to and from the Spen Valley Greenway. Metro Chairman Coun James Lewis said: “Metro and Bradford Council have long held a desire to open this new rail station at Low Moor and we have now made it possible through the recent sale of Metro–owned rolling stock and funding from the Local Transport Plan.

“We would also like to see modern, electric trains on Caldervale Line, and this new station, which will help people reach work and leisure opportunities in both Bradford and Halifax, has been designed with that possibility in mind.

“We’ve been asked frequently when we’re going to build a station at Low Moor, and I’m pleased that Metro, Network Rail and Bradford Council have been able to reach the planning stage together. I hope we get a good turnout at the consultation event, so that as many people as possible see the plans before final submission for planning consent.” The new station is scheduled to open in late 2014.