Kirkstall Forge rail station exceeds passenger number expectations
11 January 2018
Passengers made 21,400 journeys between the new Kirkstall Forge rail station and Leeds in the first five months after its opening in June 2016. This number far exceeded the figure of 20,200 per year forecast ahead of the station's construction.
Responding to the figures, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Deputy Transport Chair Cllr Eric Firth said: "This amazing level of use proves the point that if we provide high-quality transport facilities, people will use them, which proved also the case with the Elland Road Park and Ride which proved so popular we had to double the size of the parking area.
"Over the last 18 months, we have opened another new station at Apperley Bridge as well as the impressive Leeds Station Southern Entrance and in a matter of weeks, we will opening a third new station at Low Moor between Bradford and Halifax.
"These attractive, integrated transport facilities link individuals and businesses with opportunities and underpin sustainable economic growth and opportunities to create new jobs across the Leeds City Region."
Kirkstall Forge station includes a 129-space car park and a pickup/drop off point and, fully-accessible platforms with both staircases and lifts. It also has secure cycle parking and waiting shelters. It was built as part of a West Yorkshire's Rail Growth Package, with Apperley Bridge Rail Station, which opened in December 2015.
The cost of Kirkstall Forge Station, which was a joint project between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, site developer CEG and the Department for Transport, was £16m. The station is part of a wider private sector mixed use development including 1,000 new homes, as well as office, retail and leisure facilities.
Responding to the figures, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Deputy Transport Chair Cllr Eric Firth said: "This amazing level of use proves the point that if we provide high-quality transport facilities, people will use them, which proved also the case with the Elland Road Park and Ride which proved so popular we had to double the size of the parking area.
"Over the last 18 months, we have opened another new station at Apperley Bridge as well as the impressive Leeds Station Southern Entrance and in a matter of weeks, we will opening a third new station at Low Moor between Bradford and Halifax.
"These attractive, integrated transport facilities link individuals and businesses with opportunities and underpin sustainable economic growth and opportunities to create new jobs across the Leeds City Region."
Kirkstall Forge station includes a 129-space car park and a pickup/drop off point and, fully-accessible platforms with both staircases and lifts. It also has secure cycle parking and waiting shelters. It was built as part of a West Yorkshire's Rail Growth Package, with Apperley Bridge Rail Station, which opened in December 2015.
The cost of Kirkstall Forge Station, which was a joint project between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, site developer CEG and the Department for Transport, was £16m. The station is part of a wider private sector mixed use development including 1,000 new homes, as well as office, retail and leisure facilities.