Ministers confirm new train station for Bradford

Residents in West Yorkshire are to benefit from a modern interchange that could unlock development of 300 acres at the city’s Southern Gateway.

Redeveloping the Bradford Interchange site alongside the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit would support thousands of new homes, jobs, and up to £1bn in economic benefits.

The station will be part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme and come under Great British Railways, the planned publicly owned railway that will bring track and train together.

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.”

The new GBR station will be delivered in the 2030s and replace the outdated 1970s station. The government said NPR will “deliver a turn-up-and-go railway for passengers from Bradford, meaning multiple trains an hour will run frequently enough between major cities across the North that passengers won’t need to check a timetable before going to the station.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “Today is an exciting and important milestone for Bradford, with an iron clad commitment to a new station in the city centre.

“Bradford has so much untapped potential, and faster, more frequent trains to Leeds and Manchester, and the transformation of the city centre through Bradford City Village, will help to finally unleash it.

“Together with investment for northern powerhouse rail, a mass transit system for West Yorkshire and our brand-new Weaver Network, we are working in lockstep with the government to deliver a better-connected region.”

A vision of 5,000 homes was drawn up by Arup for the Southern Gateway area and launched at UKREiiF in May this year.

Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “The decision to build Bradford’s new station at the interchange in the city centre is a long-term commitment to the city and the wider North.

“By unlocking the regeneration of the Southern Gateway we will see homes and jobs for this city which otherwise would not be built or come here. Working with the council and Mayor Tracy Brabin and her team I will be doing everything I can to push on and move forward with ambitious plans that enable future phases of Northern Powerhouse Rail. This network will better connect the young people in the city with opportunities in Manchester and Liverpool as well as Sheffield.

“Bradford and the North’s next phase of growth will be built by business. Confidence is already building here, and this will help build it further.”