Bradford secures £24 million for new platform at Forster Square Station

Rail Minister Huw Merriman has confirmed investment of £24 million towards a new platform at Bradford’s Forster Square Station to reduce delays, ease congestion and improve access into the city.

Once complete – and subject to future funding decisions – this could result in an extra five London North Eastern Railway (LNER) services a day, more than tripling the current provision.

Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, said, “Bradford is benefitting from serious investment in rail infrastructure with £24 million towards a new platform for Forster Square Station helping to improve rail journeys, increase rail services and better connect passengers.

“This investment follows £2 billion for Bradford to better connect the city, including with a new station, and to facilitate faster rail journeys to Manchester via Huddersfield as part of our Network North plan, with further funding recently announced to help with the planning work for that station – demonstrating this government’s plan to invest in rail infrastructure in the region.”

This announcement comes as Bradford prepares to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2025, with the Rail Minister attending a meeting with local leaders and businesses to discuss plans to deliver a new government-funded station in the city.

The government’s £36 billion Network North plan to improve local transport connections included £2 billion to provide a new station at Bradford and a new connection to improve journey times from the city to Manchester via Huddersfield.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said, “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to secure this new investment from government. It’s good to see they now recognise the value of Bradford being better connected to the entire Northern economy.”

Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East route, said, “This funding will enable us to deliver extra platform capacity at Bradford Forster Square and allow for improved rail connections for passengers in the future. We look forward to working with the Department for Transport, Bradford Council and other stakeholders to deliver these upgrades for people travelling to and from the city.”

The announcement comes on top of £500 million previously committed to upgrade and electrify the railway between Bradford and Leeds and a further £2.5 billion Network North pledge to support the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System, which will improve connections between Leeds and Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax.