Potential new Bradford railway station plans to be unveiled soon - minister

The government's Integrated Rail Plan was met with dismay by northern political leaders in 2021

Potential plans for a new railway station in Bradford are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks, the rail minister has confirmed.

The government had been exploring options for a new station to help the regeneration of the West Yorkshire city, Huw Merriman told MPs.

He was updating them on the official response to a Transport Select Committee report scrutinising the government's Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).

The IRP sparked criticism among leaders in the north of England in 2021 when plans for a new line linking Leeds and Manchester via Bradford were dropped.

Plans for a new railway line including a stop in Bradford were dropped as part of the Integrated Rail Plan

The decision to abandon some of the elements of the promised Northern Powerhouse prompted political and business leaders to accuse the government of breaking its promises over its levelling up agenda.

They claimed the government had abandoned plans to improve transport connections between cities in Yorkshire and the North West.

Mr Merriman told members of the Transport Select Committee that the government remained "committed to the core parts of the Integrated Rail Plan, effectively the entire Integrated Rail Plan".

He said the focus was on "getting better options assessed for Bradford and enabling Bradford to put forward a new station to help with city centre regeneration".

"That's something we're very keen to do," he added.

Bradford Council's Labour leader Susan Hinchcliffe said Mr Merriman's comments were "positive".

"We have never given up on our rail ambitions for Bradford," she said.

'On track'

Mr Merriman said the government had been working "very positively" with the Treasury and the Department for Levelling Up over plans for Bradford.

"I think that's an area where I very much hope that our response will be welcomed by the committee."

He said he could assure members that "we remain on track" to get that before the Parliamentary recess in mid-July.

Responding, council leader Ms Hinchcliffe said: "For them to say they are going to alter the Integrated Rail Plan, which originally left Bradford out, represents significant progress."

The council was also pressing the government for improvements to Forster Square station, the other railway station in the city centre, to enable better London connections ahead of Bradford's year as City of Culture, she added.

Meanwhile, the council was working on major regeneration projects which were attracting private sector interest, Ms Hinchliffe said.

"Now all they need is the certainty that the government is equally willing to invest in a much-needed future rail solution for Bradford to get us on the mainline."

During a Conservative Party leadership debate in July 2022, Rishi Sunak said "an unequivocal massive yes" when asked if he was committed to "levelling up" the north of England.

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