Passengers in Bradford are set to benefit from improved rail journeys thanks to a multi-million-pound Government funding boost.<\/p>\n
In Bradford, Rail Minister Huw Merriman revealed the latest investment in the city as he confirmed \u00a324 million towards a new platform at Forster Square Station to reduce delays and futureproof the station for generations to come.<\/p>\n
The new platform will ease congestion and improve access into the city for passengers, commuters and tourists.<\/p>\n
Once complete \u2013 and subject to future funding decisions \u2013 this could result in an extra five LNER services a day, more than tripling the current provision.<\/p>\n
Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: \u201cBradford is benefitting from serious investment in rail infrastructure, with \u00a324 million towards a new platform for Forster Square Station helping to improve rail journeys, increase rail services and better connect passengers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis investment follows \u00a32 billion for Bradford to better connect the city including with a new station and to facilitate faster rail journeys to Manchester via Huddersfield as part of our Network North plan, with further funding recently announced to help with the planning work for that station \u2013 demonstrating this Government\u2019s plan to invest in rail infrastructure in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
This announcement comes as Bradford prepares to become the UK\u2019s City of Culture in 2025, with the Rail Minister attending a meeting with local leaders and businesses to discuss plans to deliver a new Government-funded station in the city.<\/p>\n
The Government\u2019s \u00a336 billion Network North plan to improve local transport connections included \u00a32 billion to provide a new station at Bradford and a new connection to improve journey times from the city to Manchester via Huddersfield.<\/p>\n
The meeting follows closely on the heels of \u00a3400,000 committed to the Bradford in November to accelerate the council\u2019s masterplans for the new station, which will see it become \u2018the King\u2019s Cross of the North\u2019.<\/p>\n
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: \u201cI\u2019m really pleased we\u2019ve been able to secure this new investment from Government. It\u2019s good to see they now recognise the value of Bradford being better connected to the entire Northern economy. The new platform at Forster Square Station will provide much needed additional capacity and connectivity for Bradford in time for the district\u2019s year as City of Culture in 2025 and for generations to come enabling greater mobility and access to opportunity across the district.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail\u2019s North & East route, said: \u201cThis funding will enable us to deliver extra platform capacity at Bradford Forster Square and allow for improved rail connections for passengers in the future. We look forward to working with the Department for Transport, Bradford Council, and other stakeholders to deliver these upgrades for people travelling to and from the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement comes on top of \u00a3500 million previously committed to upgrade and electrify the railway between Bradford and Leeds and a further \u00a32.5 billion Network North pledge to support the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System which will improve connections between Leeds and Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax.<\/p>\n
Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: \u201cWe welcome this investment and the benefits it will bring to our customers across West Yorkshire. Bradford Forster Square already sees around two million passengers every year and with these developments we look forward to many more in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Warrick Dent, LNER\u2019s Safety & Operations Director, said: \u201cLNER welcomes the news of investment in a new platform at Bradford Forster Square which will allow us to run more trains to and from the city. Our timetable plans will be announced nearer the time, and need approval by the Department for Transport, but we would expect to see a big increase in the number of LNER services. It\u2019s particularly exciting that the changes should happen during Bradford City of Culture 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n
RIA North Chair, Dave Maddison said: \u201cWe welcome and support this announcement as a key upgrade for addressing the connectivity and capacity challenges faced by the railway in Bradford and across the North. <\/p>\n
\u201cRIA North has consistently advocated for a strategic approach to long term rail investment and looks forward, on behalf of the rail supply chain community, to working with all stakeholders to deliver these upgrades for people travelling to and from the city and in the North as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
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