Funding letdown for railway stations

Efforts to secure cash for the stations at Low Moor, Bradford, and Haxby, near York, from the government’s New Stations Fund failed to win support from the Department for Transport.

Bradford councillor David Robinson fears the funding blow casts a shadow over the future of the Low Moor project.

He said: “I am extremely annoyed. We were very confident because we were so far down the line. It’s set us back now.”

But Metro chairman Councillor James Lewis insisted the authority is committed to the Bradford scheme.

He said: “We have already earmarked significant funding for Low Moor station and will now look for alternative sources, but I hope that the high level of applications to the small, £20m New Stations Fund shows the department and the Government that the desire to open or re-open rail stations and drive economic prosperity in the regions is great and that a larger fund should be made available in the future.”

Low Moor Station would be situated on the Caldervale Line between Bradford Interchange and Halifax Rail Stations.

Councillor James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council said: “It has been our vision to build a new railway station in Haxby for many years, so it’s disappointing that York not been successful with this bid.

We remain determined to progress with this vision and will continue to work with the rail industry to investigate alternative ways of delivering the station.”