Bradford station plans step closer after £400,000 funding boost

A report found Bradford had the worst rail connections of any major British conurbation

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to a new railway station in Bradford, with the announcement of £400,000 of funding.

It comes after the government said in October it would make £2bn available for the construction of the station.

It is envisaged that the new facility would be linked to a fully electrified railway line to Leeds.

A new section of railway line could also be built to link Bradford with Huddersfield and Manchester.

Speaking in Bradford on Tuesday, Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP said the funding would kickstart the scheme and move it nearer to becoming a reality.

"Bradford is soon to become the UK's City of Culture and our scheme to deliver a brand new station and railway line will help attract tourism, unlock access to neighbouring cities and provide the area with the huge regeneration opportunities it deserves to boost connectivity and economic growth," he said.

The news was welcomed by the leader of Bradford Council, Susan Hinchcliffe.

"We can now accelerate our plans for a new mainline railway station in Bradford connected to the main line," she said.

A full business plan for the station is expected to be published in 2024.

Analysis: Spencer Stokes, business and transport correspondent, BBC Look North

The plan to build a new railway station for Bradford was first announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019.

It was then cancelled, reinstated and cancelled again before finally being backed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the day that the northern section of the High Speed 2 railway line between Birmingham and Manchester was scrapped.

The current Bradford Interchange station was opened in 1977 and is a dead-end terminus - meaning that trains have to reverse out. This slows them down leading to longer journey times for passengers.

The brand new Bradford station would be on an east - west axis so there would be no need for trains to reverse.

But the new-build station is likely to be on the edge of the current city centre, so Bradford Council see the project as an opportunity to grow the city with new homes and businesses in the area around the development.