Business case for new Bradford station to be submitted as Northern Powerhouse Rail confirmed
A new through station in the West Yorkshire city is part of the major investment into railways in the north
THE business case for a new Bradford through rail station will be submitted to Government this Summer.
On Wednesday afternoon Chancellor Rachel Reeves was in West Yorkshire to give more details about proposals that will see £45 billion invested in the long planned Northern Powerhouse Rail line.
The project will see a new station built in Bradford, and rail improvements between the city and Leeds will be in the first phase of the work.
Eventually the line will link Northern cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, York and Sheffield.
Bradford Council’s Leader Susan Hinchcliffe says the announcement comes after a decade of pressing successive governments for investment in Bradford’s rail systems, and was delighted that Bradford is now a key point in the Government’s plans for future rail improvement.
At a press briefing at the Neville Hill Traincare Depot in Leeds, Mrs Reeves said the Government was releasing over £1b to begin plans for the rail improvements – money which will be used for planning and the purchase of land needed to make Northern Powerhouse Rail a reality.
The total spend of the project will be capped at £45b – with further funding released in future spending reviews.
The Chancellor said the project would be carried out in phases to avoid the problems that faced HS2.
The first phase would include improved links between Bradford and Leeds, York and Leeds and Sheffield and Leeds.
NPR will also develop better rail links between Bradford and Huddersfield, as well as the development of the long mooted new Bradford rail station – which will be based in a new “Southern Gateway” to the city centre.
The Chancellor said while NPR will be a long term project, residents in the north should start seeing benefits in the “early 2030s.”
The works will be a mix of new lines and new stations and improvements to existing lines and infrastructure, building on the TransPennine upgrade works currently underway.
Mrs Reeves said: “By the early 2030s we want people to feel the benefits of this investment. We don’t want people to have to wait for the whole line to be built.”
When asked if the announcement was a “watered down” version of what had been promised in the past, she said: “The big difference is that we’ve now put a price on it – £45b.”
Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “This is the result of a decade of work by ourselves, businesses, West Yorkshire Combined Authority to get us to this point.
“That map shows the clear link of Leeds, Bradford and Manchester. That is exactly what we need, and there is real money behind this.
“It is great to hear that Bradford is at the front of the queue.
“It will take time, about 10 to 15 years. People wanting better news now – this won’t do it for them, but we’re in this position because previous Governments have failed to invest.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Cllr Hinchcliffe is she was concerned that any change in Government could scupper the plans, she said: “If people want growth in the North of England and for us to contribute to the UK economy they need to realise that investment in infrastructure is crucial.
“The Southern Gateway will bring a £1.1b boost to Bradford’s economy, 23,000 jobs and thousands of homes.
“Any Government wanting growth needs to understand the economic facts and invest.”
Asked what the next stage was, she said: “We’ll be submitting the business case in the Summer.
“That will include funding for the station and better linking Bradford and Huddersfield.
“Government has told Network Rail that this is now a priority.”
Referring to how the plans seem to have finally turned a corner, Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “The difference we’re now seeing is it is not just me knocking on Government’s door asking for Bradford to get new rail links. Now Government is coming to Bradford to say ‘how do we help you deliver it?’”
At the press briefing, which was attending by press from across the UK, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said there had been “many false dawns” leading to this moment.
She said: “Lots of promises from the Conservative Government came to nothing. And I’m convinced any Government led by Nigel Farage would give us nothing, as they have said they want to scrap Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“We’re grateful the Government is backing this 100 per cent.”