Garforth rail station’s new 333-space car park - fully open from Friday

16 December 2019

An extra 83 free car parking spaces will be available at Garforth rail station From Friday 20 December, bringing the total to 333 spaces.

There will be 10 extra blue badge bays, meaning there are 15 in total, thanks to the £1.12 million extension scheme which also includes a new cycle storage shelter.

Cycle storage

Enhanced cycle storage and a repair station, CCTV, low-energy lighting, enhanced drainage infrastructure to prevent pollution from fuel and oil run-off and electrical ducting for potential future electric vehicle charging points are also part of the scheme.

Improvements to the station entry were carried out by Leeds City Council before work on the six-month improvement project started in July.

West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund

Financed by the Combined Authority through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund and delivered by Northern, Garforth is the fourth of 14 West Yorkshire station car park extensions to be completed after Mirfield, Fitzwilliam & South Elmsall. Stations at which work is soon due to start include Moorthorpe, Mytholmroyd, Normanton and Steeton & Silsden.

The West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund is supported through the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

Increased opportunity

Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee said: “I am pleased to see the significantly extended car park re-open and would like to thank Garforth station users and local residents for bearing with us while the work has been carried out and spaces have been limited.

“We are creating around 2,000 additional parking spaces at 14 stations across West Yorkshire through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund park to increase the opportunity for commuters to park and ride by train for the last part of their journey.

“We established the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund in 2014 to invest in schemes designed to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region by improving road, bus, rail and other links over a 20-year period. “

“This scheme at Garforth rail station will contribute to us achieving our aims of reducing the economic and environmental costs of congestion in our town and city centres.”

Investment

Steve Hopkinson, Regional Director at Northern, said: “It’s great to see the expansion of car parks as we continue to work with WYCA and other partners to encourage more people to use public transport.

“The additional car parking spaces complement the investment we are delivering on the network, with much of West Yorkshire now served by our brand-new trains and customers also benefitting from enhancements at our stations.”

The new cycle store and repair station will open in January when work on it is completed.

While the work was being carried out and parking spaces at Garforth were limited, dedicated, multi-occupancy (car share) spaces for vehicles with two or more rail users in their car.

Car park users were also provided information about the nearby Temple Green park and ride from where they were able to catch frequent bus services to and from Leeds city centre for as little as £2.70 per day. Directions to Temple Green, which was another West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund scheme, were supplied.

Cycling, walking and local bus services were also highlighted as options for those people living closer to Garforth station.

Find out more about West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund schemes.