Central location of Bradford’s new train station is to be welcomed but important questions need answering - Yorkshire Post Letters

It is very welcome that Bradford’s new station will be central, on the site of Bradford Interchange, and not on the other side of the Ring Road as originally proposed. Nevertheless, some important questions need answering during the next year when more detailed options are worked through.

The new station will be on the site of the present station, which is well situated for the city centre and shares the site with the bus station, thus facilitating interchange between public transport modes. But it has not yet been decided whether it will be a through station, as envisaged by Northern Powerhouse Rail, or a rebuilt turnback station on the same site, hopefully with extra platforms and much better passenger facilities.

A through station is clearly beneficial, saving about four minutes on journey times, but how can the site accommodate it? It can’t be on the footprint of the current station because there is no scope there for a through station and they cannot surely be considering closing the present station before a new one is operational. Thus it will have to be on the wider Interchange site. That would surely mean the loss of the bus station. If so, where will the replacement bus station be? Will it be as easy to change from bus to train?

Tram connectivity is mentioned, but we are still awaiting the tram scheme being given its very long overdue go-ahead, thanks to blocking by the Treasury. Hopefully the Government will give the tram scheme speedy approval, so that trams reach Bradford by the time the new station opens.

The proposed more frequent “turn go and go services” are most welcome, but where will they serve? Will Huddersfield be included? Between Bradford and Manchester, what will be the mix of express, semi-fast and stopping services? Railfuture wants improved train services from where people live, so will there also be improved services to places currently only having one train an hour to Bradford, such as Mytholmroyd and Sowerby Bridge?

It is vital for Bradford that it becomes easier for people living in villages and small towns to access it for work and for its cultural activities. Additionally, will the scheme include new direct services between Bradford, Halifax, Barnsley and Sheffield, avoiding Leeds?

Will the Calder Valley line be up-signalled to enable more frequent and faster services to Manchester, or is the Northern Powerhouse Rail promoted new line between Bradford and Huddersfield part of the project? Railfuture has grave doubts about such a line, as it would be expensive, and environmentally destructive. We do not want another HS2 fiasco. Electrification between Leeds and Bradford is planned, but what about further west along the Calder Valley?

All these issues need resolving by the Secretary of State, the West Yorkshire Mayor and Bradford Council.