New station puts city at heart of network - mayor

A new railway station is to be built in Bradford which will put the city at the "heart" of the Northern Powerhouse Railway network, the government has confirmed.

The station, which will replace Bradford Interchange, will be delivered in the 2030s and provide improved links to Leeds, York and Manchester, a spokesperson said.

The Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme was first proposed over a decade ago, but in January the government promised the £45bn plan would go ahead.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said the government's latest confirmation the station would be built in the city was an "iron-clad commitment".

"Today is an exciting and important milestone for Bradford," Brabin said.

"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."

The current Bradford Interchange was built in the 1970s and includes a railway station and bus station.

The bus station was closed for a year between January 2024 and January 2025 after a chunk of concrete fell from the roof of an underground car park.

It is understood that a decision has not yet been made on whether trains will be able to travel through the new railway station, or change direction and reverse out, as is currently the case.

According to the government, the new station – operated by publicly-owned Great British Railways - would provide more frequent trains and improved journey times to and from Bradford.

A statement said multiple trains an hour would run "frequently enough that passengers won't need to check a timetable before going to the station".

Stephen Place, Reform UK's leader of Bradford Council, said the latest announcement was "a major milestone for Bradford and the North".

"The government's commitment to improving Bradford's national rail connectivity removes one of the city's biggest barriers to growth," he said.

"This funding unlocks the next stage of work, with engineering studies now set to begin which will determine the final scope of the new station.

"We have always been clear that a city centre station delivers the greatest regeneration benefits.

"Better connections across the North will connect more people to jobs, skills and opportunities, while helping businesses to grow."

NPR was originally envisaged as a new railway line across the north of England stretching from Liverpool to Hull, but the project was scaled back in 2021 by the then Conservative government.

Under the latest plans, an initial £1.1bn has been earmarked for design and preparation of NPR, which is expected to be delivered in phases.

According to the government, Yorkshire will be prioritised in stage one, while stage two will include upgrades around Greater Manchester, including a new line from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport and Liverpool.

The final stage, which is not likely to be delivered until the 2040s, would see the construction of a new railway line between Bradford and Huddersfield.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said NPR would "transform how people travel across the North".

"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," she said.

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