Newly launched campaign calls for Northern Powerhouse Rail station in Bradford city centre

A campaign has been launched to bring a Northern Powerhouse Rail station to Bradford city centre.

The campaign, ‘Next Stop Bradford’, is aiming to highlight the benefits a Northern Powerhouse Rail station in the city centre will bring to the Bradford economy and the Northern Powerhouse as a whole.

Business, Council and community representatives have joined forces to demand commitment from the government and Transport for the North for the new rail station.

The launch of the campaign follows the remarks by Northern Powerhouse Minister, Andrew Percy MP, at the Inclusive Growth event which took place in the city earlier this month. The Minister stated: “If I had my way, Bradford would have a stop on Northern Powerhouse Rail”.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council said: “With a prime location in the centre of the Northern Powerhouse, Bradford is home to over 17,000 businesses including market-leading companies such as Provident Financial and Yorkshire Building Society as well as thousands of thriving SMEs.

“Benefiting from a rapidly growing young population and outstanding Higher and Further education institutions, Bradford is continuing to reinvent itself as a world class destination to live, work and invest.

“However, as the largest city in the UK not on a mainline rail network, Bradford has the potential to contribute much more to the Northern Powerhouse economy if connected to the Northern Powerhouse Rail network.

“If Transport for the North commit to a city centre station, our forecasts suggest an economic boost of at least £1.3bn to the city’s economy with faster trains arriving more often and enhanced connectivity to other major cities across the north.

“The strong message we will continue to voice is that the north simply cannot be successful without Bradford being successful and the time to invest is now.”

Local politicians, Philip Davies MP and Judith Cummins MP, have also raised this issue in the House of Commons.

Judith added: “Leeds and Bradford have the largest daily commuter flows between two cities anywhere in the country and contribute a combined £29.2bn in GVA to the national economy.

“As an economic powerhouse in its own right, it is unacceptable that connectivity between the two cities remains hampered by poor transport infrastructure.

“The hard evidence stacking up in favour of a city centre station and this is supported by businesses and people in the community who agree there is a vital demand for this investment in East to West connectivity. We now need commitment from the government and Transport for the North to ensure Bradford continues to thrive.”

Andy Caton, President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, concluded: “Access to talent is a high priority for any business looking to grow and invest. As a result, excellent connectivity is crucial to attract people to new and better jobs.

“Siting a Northern Powerhouse Rail station in Bradford city centre makes sense not only for this city – putting, as it does, Bradford back on the main line – but for West Yorkshire generally.

“The city has one of the fastest growing populations in the UK, but transport connectivity and congestion remains a key issue for many businesses and residents.”

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