West Yorkshire Mayor and leader of Bradford Council keep Northern Powerhouse Rail pressure on

25 November 2022

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and the leader of Bradford Council Susan Hinchcliffe have cautiously welcomed the government’s announcement that they are assessing options for a new station in Bradford and called for talks to thrash out a plan. 

The revelation was made by the new Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, this week in the House of Commons. 

Responding to a question from Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis, the minister said he was leading work on behalf of the Prime Minister to assess options for a new station and better connectivity for Bradford.

This follows the government’s announcement in the Autumn Statement that they would be scaling back on plans to build Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, with a new station at Bradford, and instead proceed with less ambitious “core plans” set out in last year’s Integrated Rail Plan.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said:

"We are clear that building Northern Powerhouse Rail in full with that important new station in Bradford is the right decision for West Yorkshire, the North, and the whole country.

"We look forward to meeting the new Transport Secretary so that we can explain to him how this will create thousands of jobs, boost the economy by billions and level up opportunities in jobs and living standards."

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council and Chair of West Yorkshire’s transport committee, said:

"Business leaders and MPs from all across the North support Bradford’s ask to be part of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

"If Government are now starting to take that seriously then I ask them to get together with us and sort out a plan to make it happen."