A railway station serving Leeds Bradford Airport is part of £270 million proposals to transform transport in Leeds.
Details of the airport parkway station have been revealed ahead of the release of a new transport strategy by Leeds Council, which the leader has described as a “transformational step change for public transport”.
It would be built on the existing Leeds to Harrogate line, connecting to the wider rail network and would also act as a park and ride station to be used by commuters to Leeds and Harrogate.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “We support the proposal for a parkway station to the airport as improving transport links to the airport are vital for the region’s future economic growth.
“Securing a Bradford stop on the northern powerhouse rail line, which Leeds support, will massively enhance this proposal by shortening journey times to the airport further and projects like this further emphasise the importance of Bradford getting off the branch line once and for all.”
The Chamber lobbied for a station to serve the airport during a consultation process on the airport’s future strategy earlier this year.
Although it is acknowledged that the station does not support Bradford directly, and that it is still approximately one mile from the terminal, it was felt better to support the proposal in order not to delay improved links to the airport for the region generally. Today’s Telegraph & Argus editorial rightly points out that Bradford’s citizens also need to be fully supported by a regional transport strategy and the Chamber is speaking to the local authority on how that will best be achieved.
