Train users criticise interchange disruption

The entrance and concourse at Bradford Interchange has been closed since January

Train users at Bradford Interchange have spoken of their frustration at disruption caused by the closure of the building's main entrance and concourse.

The city's bus station, part of the interchange, was closed on 4 January until further notice after structural damage was discovered.

Meanwhile, since that time, rail users have been forced to walk up a slope and side passage to access train services.

Investigations by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) are continuing after fallen concrete was found in the bus station's basement in December, sparking the initial problem.

A Bradford Council meeting last month heard that an 8in by 20in (20cm by 50cm) piece of concrete had fallen into the interchange's underground car park on 22 December.

The car park was subsequently shut, with the bus station, main entrance and concourse then closed on 4 January.

Temporary bus stops were set up along Nelson Street and in the Jacobs Well car park.

A meeting at the end of January was told the bus station at the interchange was likely to stay closed for longer than two months.

Ali Taimoor uses both buses and trains on a daily basis

Ali Taimoor, an international student based in Bradford who said he used the interchange for both trains and buses, described the current situation as "ridiculous".

"At the moment it's really hard, to be honest. The bus station is closed, we can't find the buses," he said.

"They're changing the rules and we follow the maps on the Google and they're not showing up properly."

Mr Taimoor added that with the whole concourse at the interchange out of bounds, it was not even possible to buy a coffee when he was going for his early morning train.

Meanwhile, Toni Foster, who was about to catch a train to Hull to see her dad to celebrate her 18th birthday, said using the interchange was proving "very hard".

"I just hope they get back to normal so everything can go to plan and we don't have to change plans all the time," she said.

"I am a bit hungry and I was going to get something from Greggs but it's closed so I'm going to have to wait until I'm in Hull to get some food."

Toni Foster said she could not find anywhere to get food in the interchange

Aneesa Khan, 21, preparing to travel to London, explained: "We can't use the lifts and we're struggling.

"We've got suitcases and we're going back to uni afterwards so it's harder."

Her friend Sania Zara, 24, added: "It's ridiculous, I need to use the toilet. I've no idea where the nearest toilet is, which is why I'm waiting to get on the train.

"I don't know why it's closed. I think it's out of order."

A security guard on duty at the site told the BBC the nearest toilets were a five-minute walk away in City Park.

Train passengers are being diverted up a steep walkway to the railway station

Last month, councillors from all political parties heavily criticised WYCA for the lack of communication around the issues at the interchange.

Simon Warburton, WYCA's executive director of transport, said: “Contractors are still continuing their assessment of the damage at Bradford Interchange bus station after some concrete fell into the basement of the bus station on 22 December.

“Public safety remains our top priority and we will not open the bus station until it is safe to do so. We are working on a series of ongoing measures to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers.

“We cannot speculate further until we have the full results of the surveys that are under way on site.

"We will provide more information when we can, and will continue to assess with our partners at Bradford Council what work will be needed before safely reopening the bus station.”

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