Kirkstall Forge Station to officially open in Leeds this weekend

The new Kirkstall Forge Station is set to welcome its first passengers this weekend.

Kirkstall Forge Station, which is located within the new Kirkstall Forge development, will open to passengers on Sunday 19 June.

Initially, one train per hour will call in each direction, with additional services during the morning and evening peaks.

The new station includes a 129-space car park and a pickup/drop off point and, fully-accessible platforms with both staircases and ramps. It also has secure cycle parking and waiting shelters.

Together with Apperley Bridge Rail Station, which opened in December 2015, Kirkstall Forge is part of West Yorkshire’s £15.9m Rail Growth Package.

Building work has started at the £400m Kirkstall Forge development, with the first 110,000 sq ft, seven-story flagship office due for completion in 2017.

Once complete, the 57-acre development will comprise over 1,000 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of offices, 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space and create around 2,400 new jobs.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “It is fantastic news that rail services to the new Kirkstall Forge Station are about to open.

“The station has a key role to play in realising the major regeneration potential of the broader Kirkstall Forge development, bringing with it new jobs, training opportunities, housing and a range of office and leisure facilities to offer a significant boost to the local economy.

“We look forward to seeing lots of people making use of the new station and Kirkstall Forge as a prime destination as well as a gateway to the city centre and beyond in the weeks, months and years to come.”

Transport Minister Andrew Jones MP, commented: “This brand new station at Kirkstall Forge is another example of the funding that we are putting into local transport in the North, boosting the Northern Powerhouse and generating economic growth throughout the region.

“Not only will the government’s £9.5m investment into Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge rail stations bring better journeys for passengers in the area, it will also lead to up to £400m of private investment by the Commercial Estates Group into houses and jobs for the region.”

Alex Hynes, managing director for Northern Rail, concluded: “This is more fantastic news for our customers as we start managing another brand new station in West Yorkshire; the second of three in the region.

“Kirkstall Forge opens up a cleaner, greener way of moving between Leeds, Ilkley and Skipton for the local community as well as helping reduce traffic on the roads. Fully accessible, the station’s car park will also be welcomed by our commuting customers.”

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