BRADFORD RAIL:

build the station

Back the north

Bradford is busy shaping its new future but remains the only major northern city not on a main line or directly connected to the fast transpennine routes.

We urge the Government to prioritise the early delivery of a package of rail proposals (The Bradford Rail Programme) to provide Bradford with a 10-minute journey time to Huddersfield, 12 minutes to Leeds and 30 minutes to Manchester.

The plan:

1. A New City Centre Rail Station

Bradford Interchange is outdated and constrained, limiting the city’s potential. A new station will create a modern gateway to Bradford, improve capacity, and deliver the arrival experience the city deserves. Several locations are under review, with detailed engineering and design assessments shaping the business case.

2. A Through Line

Bradford’s current layout forces trains to reverse, adding delays and complexity. This inefficiency makes Bradford Interchange one of the worst for knock-on delays. A through line will eliminate these issues, simplify operations, and provide the capacity needed for growing demand—strengthening Transpennine links and benefiting the entire North..

3. Faster Connections

Journey times of 12 minutes to Leeds and under 30 to Manchester will transform Bradford’s connectivity and competitiveness. For too long, the city has been held back; faster links will unlock economic growth, attract private investment, and position Bradford as a prime location for business and prosperity.

Why it matters:

Remove barriers to opportunity and tackle deprivation

Raise economic activity in Bradford

Improve national connections

Regenerate Bradford City Centre and the Southern Gateway site

Deliver green transport and help improve health outcomes

Faster Routes = more Opportunity

Bradford remains disconnected from the fast transpennine route corridor and direct links to Manchester — a gap that continues to hold back the full realisation of the growth potential in one of Britain’s youngest cities.

12 minutes to Leeds

(from 24 minutes)

30 minutes to Manchester

(from 60 minutes)

Investing in rail will bring northern cities closer together through faster journeys and a more resilient transport network, unlocking the benefits of greater regional connectivity.

Boost Connectivity

A modern station means faster, more reliable connections to Leeds, Manchester, and beyond. Cutting travel times will open up new opportunities for work, education, and leisure, making Bradford the gateway to the North.
Drive Economic Growth

Bradford has one of the UK’s highest business start-up rates, but poor connectivity hampers access to wider markets and talent pools.A new station will enhance commercial viability, attract investment, create jobs, and bring talent into the city. Bradford’s businesses will thrive with easier access to a wider workforce, and fresh ideas will flow.
Remove Barriers to opportunity

Nearly 39% of the city’s population is under 25. A new station means better connections to jobs, apprenticeships, and universities. Young people in Bradford will have easier access to a wider job market and more opportunities for learning and growth. It’s about breaking down barriers and connecting people to the future.
Reduce Car Dominance

Rail travel emits approximately 10 times less carbon per passenger than car travel, making it a significantly greener transport option. The Bradford Rail Programme is a major step toward a cleaner, low-carbon future. By shifting more journeys from road to rail, it will cut emissions, reduce congestion, and support West Yorkshire’s transition to sustainable, net-zero transport.

If I could write to the little girl who grew up to be my mum…

I’d tell her one thing…to dream

“

Noor, Bradford

Listen to a poem about opportunity for young people

Hear firsthand why it matters

• Hear firsthand why it matters •

Bradford:

Voices

of Rail

Quick Facts

A study in 2021 found that Bradford has the worst rail connections of any major UK city. Bradford is the only major northern city not on a main line or directly connected to the fast transpennine routes
Our young people represent the workforce of the future. 1 in 4 people are under 16 years old and a third under the age 30
This is a vital major step in our long-term strategy to tackle deprivation and lift 14 of Bradford’s 30 Wards out of the 10% most deprived areas of the UK
Bradford District has 26.3% of all under 16’s in West Yorkshire but 34.6% of its total child poverty. The rail investment will accelerate efforts to tackle relative child poverty which is too high, exceeding 50% in Bradford East (54.6%) and Bradford West (56.2%)
If Bradford were to just match the UK average on productivity, enterprise density and employment rates it would unlock more than £4.5bn of additional annual economic output
Leeds and Bradford have the largest commuter flows between any two UK cities. Faster connections will deliver huge economic agglomeration benefit.

we Have Momentum

All key partners are united and fully committed to making this a reality.

Southern Gateway Board

A Southern Gateway Board is well established containing all major Government Departments, key national and regional delivery bodies. The Chair is Nigel Foster, a leading rail consultant in the UK.

Local Growth plan

The recently published West Yorkshire Local Growth Plan sets out how West Yorkshire will contribute to the UK’s overall growth mission. It featured Bradford as the biggest and most important growth opportunity in West Yorkshire, if not the North of England.

Development Blueprint

Bradford Council recently completed the Southern Gateway Development Framework providing a blueprint for on of the UK's largest regeneration sites.

Mass Transit

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is considering how its plans for Mass Transit will interact with the new Bradford station to provide a fully integrated transport hub in Bradford city centre.

Find out more about the plans for Mass Transit here

MHCLG

MHCLG recently confirmed funding to model the regeneration-uplift that will be delivered from the new Bradford Rail station.

Transport for the North

Providing transport analysis, modelling and economic expertise to inform the Strategic Outline Business Case.

Network Rail

Network Rail is now undertaking key engineering and design studies to provide cost estimates and inform the strategic business case.

Department for Transport

DfT recently released £0.5m to expedite station master-planning and views Bradford Rail Programme as a key priority in its delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

Consultant Partners

Bradford Council has commissioned Arup as its Southern Gateway master-planning partner (WSP conducted previous Development Frameworks for the Southern Gateway regeneration site).

National Wealth Fund

The National Wealth Fund's Local Advisory team are partnering with Bradford Council to seek ways to secure private investment.

Homes England

In partnership with Homes England, land referencing and assembly studies are now being undertaken.

Become a ‘Bradvocate’

Join the growing movement backing the Bradford Rail Programme. Whether you're a local resident, business owner, educator, or simply believe in a better-connected North — we want to hear from you.

By emailing us at bradfordrail@bradford.gov.uk, you’ll get access to everything you need — from campaign materials and key messages to updates and ways to show your support.

Whether you’ve got time to spread the word, share on socials, or just want to stay in the loop — every voice counts.

Email now to get involved. Let’s make some noise for Bradford.