Prioritise
Bradford rail
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 to provide Bradford with a 10-minute journey time to Huddersfield, 12 minutes to Leeds and 30 minutes to Manchester.
Significant momentum exists in Britain’s youngest city. We call on the Government to make further investment in Bradford Rail a major part of its upcoming spending review and 10-year infrastructure plan.
the Bradford Rail Programme
This is about delivering our strategic objectives:
Remove barriers to opportunity and tackle deprivation
Raise economic activity in Bradford
Improve national connectivity
Regenerate Bradford City Centre and the Southern Gateway site
Deliver green transport and help improve health outcomes
There are 3 main components to the Bradford Rail Programme:
1. A New City Centre Rail Station
Bradford Interchange is constrained by its capacity and condition. A new station is needed to deliver an enhanced sense of arrival to Bradford.
A number of potential station locations have been identified through previous development work. These sites are being assessed from an engineering and design perspective and these detailed assessments will inform the business case.
2. Through Line
Journey times and reliability are severely constrained by trains having to reverse at Bradford Interchange. A timetabled 6-minute time penalty is experienced by passengers passing through. Conflicting train movements create additional delays with Bradford Interchange being the 9th worst location for this type of knock-on delay.
A city the size of Bradford requires a through line that provides operational simplicity, can withstand a higher volume of train movements and facilitate greater passenger rail demand. This additional capacity at Bradford will improve the resilience of the transpennine rail links, creating benefits for the whole of the north.
3. Faster Connections
Journey times of 12 minutes to Leeds and under 30 minutes to Manchester will boost connectivity and productivity enormously.
For too long Bradford has punched under its weight. It is time to ensure that economic growth, productivity and prosperity are shared more equally across our country.
Competitive connections to other northern cities and the international gateway of Manchester Airport will make Bradford a primary location for the deployment of private capital. It will take Bradford from being a place of marginal viability to one offering a stronger return on investment for private sector investors.
Why is a new station a Priority?
We’re uniquely positioned in the centre of the core northern city network between Leeds and Manchester
Bradford is the only major northern city not on a main line or directly connected to the fast transpennine routes
The 10-mile journey to Leeds takes 24 minutes and the 40-mile journey to Manchester takes 60 minutes
Delivering the Bradford Rail Programme is now the key to unleashing Bradford’s economic potential
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
Our young people represent the workforce of the future. 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 benefits
With multi-million pound regeneration projects now delivered, Bradford has the foundation to accelerate its growth and realise its full potential
Faster journey times Unlock Opportunities
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.
12 minutes to Leeds
30 minutes to Manchester
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.
Unlocking this opportunity through major infrastructure investment, regeneration, and milestones like UK City of Culture 2025 will be crucial in driving inclusive, long-term growth across West Yorkshire.
this is a Once-In-A-Generation Opportunity
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
This isn’t just about transport, it’s about opportunity. 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
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
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.
Inward investment
Private sector curiosity from potential investors is higher than ever before. This has been generated from the October 2023 announcement that the scope of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) will be expanded to bring Bradford into the programme with an investment of up to £2bn.
Productivity Gains
Bradford has one of the UK’s highest business start-up rates, but poor connectivity hampers access to wider markets and talent pools.
Social Mobility
Nearly 39% of the city’s population is under 25, making improved transport links is essential to connect young people with education, and job opportunities.
Clean Air & Health
Rail travel emits approximately 10 times less carbon per passenger than car travel, making it a significantly greener transport option.
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
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.
Quick Facts
A study in 2021 found that Bradford has the worst rail connections of any major UK city.
Our rail services need a serious upgrade if we’re going to compete with other cities.Poor transport links have held Bradford back from growing and thriving.
For too long, our city has struggled because of bad transport links. It’s time to change that!Bradford reflects modern Britain – it’s time we connect it to opportunity. We’re ready for change, and we need to be linked to the opportunities that will help our city grow and succeed.
Bradford sees very low rail demand when compared to other cities of a similar size. The absence of effective rail connections between Bradford and Manchester Airport is a major constraint to unleashing the economic potential of Bradford’s economy.
Become a Supporter
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 southerngateway@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.