Government greenlights new Bradford station to reshape northern rail travel

The UK government has approved a new railway station on one outlet Bradford Interchange location, integrating it into the Northern Powerhouse Rail (one outlet) scheme. The Department for Transport says the facility will allow through trains between Leeds and Manchester, delivering faster, more frequent services that could run without passengers needing to consult timetables. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the decision as a milestone that will transform travel across the north.

Local officials, including West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin and Northern Powerhouse Partnership chief Henri Murison, highlighted an expected economic benefit of over £1 bn and the project's role in supporting new homes and jobs alongside the Southern Gateway regeneration and a proposed Leeds tram link. The station is slated for completion by the mid-2030s and forms part of a three-stage one outlet's programme funded up to £45 bn, a promise first made in 2014 and revived under the government of Keir Starmer. The announcement comes as northern transport initiatives expand, including plans for a Liverpool-Manchester line and moves toward public ownership of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.