Bradford to get more train services to London

Grand Central hopes to offer more train services between Bradford and London

More trains between Bradford and London are expected to be included in the next national railway timetable, according to a report.

The Bradford Interchange to London King's Cross route could get an additional two services a day when the next timetable change is announced in December.

Grand Central currently operates four services a day with stops at Halifax, Mirfield, Wakefield, Pontefract and Doncaster.

The report to West Yorkshire's Combined Authority's transport committee also states there is likely to be an increase in services from Bradford Forster Square to London in the new timetable.

The report stated: "Grand Central are hoping to introduce up to two additional trains each way per day on their Bradford Interchange - London King's Cross route, as against the current four per day – with the potential to introduce one of the two extra train-pairs sooner than December.

"However, it is not yet known whether their application for the relevant network access has been approved."

If network access is approved, the services will follow an increase in London services to Bradford Forster Square that was introduced in May, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Improved service'

Platform 0 opened at Bradford Forster Square Station on 19 May, and has seen LNER increase the number of direct trains from Bradford to King's Cross from two a day to seven a day.

It followed a £35m investment from government, and was expected to add £4m a year to Bradford's economy.

The report said more Forster Square to London services are likely in the December timetable change.

"LNER's Sunday services on the Bradford Forster Square – London King's Cross route are expected to increase, bringing them in line with the significantly improved weekday service."

The December changes will also see train times on the Skipton and Ilkley lines "adjusted slightly" to accommodate the extra London to Bradford Foster Square LNER trains.

Other changes to West Yorkshire rail services in the December timetable include:

- The introduction of long-awaited hourly fast train from Leeds to Sheffield via Wakefield Westgate, roughly 30 minutes apart from the existing Cross-Country fast service, throughout the day and every day.

- An additional 21:34 Sheffield to Huddersfield service on the Penistone line on weekdays.

- The restoration of the two daily York to Sheffield via Pontefract trains on Sunday.

The committee will also be told later that there has been a shift back towards office working in recent years.

Northern Rail said this shift has led to a 9% year-on-year increase in commuter travel.

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