A new train station at Bradford Interchange will “transform how people travel across the North”, the Government has said.
The station is set to be delivered in the 2030s, replacing the 1970s station, and will be part of Great British Railways (GBR).
It will boost the West Yorkshire city’s connections with other northern cities including Leeds, Manchester and York, the Department for Transport (DfT) said on Tuesday.
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Bradford will be “at the heart of the NPR (Northern Powerhouse Rail) network”, the department said, with the new station “creating opportunities for investment, regeneration and economic growth”.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Today marks an important milestone for Bradford with a brand-new station that will transform how people travel across the North.
“By bringing Northern Powerhouse Rail into the heart of the city, we are unlocking the huge potential Bradford offers – improving connections, supporting economic growth and setting the foundations for new homes, jobs and opportunities across the region.”
Bradford Council have said that delivering the new station, along with the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit Network, will unlock thousands of jobs and homes and more than £1 billion in economic benefits.
The new station will mean more frequent trains, improved journey times and reliability for passengers, the DfT said.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “Bradford has so much untapped potential, and faster, more frequent trains to Leeds and Manchester, and the transformation of the city centre through Bradford City Village, will help to finally unleash it.
“Together with investment for NPR, a mass transit system for West Yorkshire and our brand-new Weaver Network, we are working in lockstep with the Government to deliver a better-connected region.”
Bradford Council leader Stephen Place called the announcement a major milestone for Bradford and the North, and said a new station with faster connections to Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester would be a catalyst for investment and regeneration.
“We have always been clear that a city centre station delivers the greatest regeneration benefits. Better connections across the North will connect more people to jobs, skills and opportunities, while helping businesses to grow,” he said.
“Bradford’s young, talented and diverse workforce is one of the North’s greatest assets, and this investment will help unlock its full potential.”
NPR was first proposed in 2014 and was originally envisioned as a new line between Liverpool and Hull.
The Government announced in January that the scheme would be delivered in three stages, with a funding cap of £45 billion, which could be topped up by local contributions.
The first phase of the programme involves improved connections on existing lines on these routes: between Sheffield and Leeds; between Leeds and York; and between Leeds and Bradford.
GBR, a new public sector body, will bring responsibility for tracks and trains under a single organisation for the first time since privatisation in the mid-1990s.
