Low Moor - new station - now open

[crispy1978]

http://m.northernrail.org/news/7749

Work begins on Low Moor station


25 August 2015


Construction work on a new £10.8m rail station at Low Moor, Bradford, is underway.

Funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Network Rail, the new station is on the Calder Valley Line between Bradford Interchange and Halifax and will serve passengers in Low Moor, Oakenshaw and Wyke.

It's the third new station to be built in West Yorkshire over the coming months, following on from Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge.

Cllr Keith Wakefield, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: "As well as improving travel links for people traveling into the city centre and towards Halifax, Leeds and Manchester the new station is located within convenient access of the M62 / M606 junction. It will attract park & ride users which will reduce congestion, and also generate significant economic and social benefits in attracting new jobs and investment to the Low Moor area.

"The new station has great support from the local community, which is why we and our partners have earmarked significant funding through the Local Transport Plan. Like other new stations in the region, it will have a positive impact on housing and the social economy of the area."

Coun Val Slater, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Housing, Planning and transport, said: "I welcome the long awaited start to this station, which will bring a number of benefits to the people of Bradford South and Bradford as a whole. It has been a long journey to get to this point, with a number of difficulties that have had to be overcome, but persistence and hard work have paid off and I look forward to the opening of the station."

Station facilities will include:

fully-accessible platforms with footbridge and passenger lifts;
modern waiting shelters with seating, lighting and CCTV coverage
customer information screens and public address system;
130 car parking spaces with dedicated disabled persons parking bays, drop off point and cycle parking;
direct access to and from the adjacent Spen Valley Greenway for pedestrians and cyclists.
The new station is expected to be open in spring 2016.

Natalie Loughborough, Customer Service Director for Northern Rail commented: "This station has been long in the pipeline and we are pleased to see work is now underway. It is a difficult site with challenges underfoot but it is an absolute credit to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and to Bradford Council for pushing on with the project.

"At Northern, we are looking forward to its completion and servicing yet another West Yorkshire community and we are also look forward to working with the Friends of Low Moor once their station opens for business."

The start of work has also been welcomed by ward councillors Sarah Ferriby, David Robinson and David Warburton, and from local MP Judith Cummins.

"It is very fitting that our hard work has come to fruition, and that we have a new beginning 50 years after the last train stopped at the old Low Moor railway station. Whilst work was going on in the background, the community came on board and set up the Friends of Low Moor Station before we had a station, and we have the possibility of Grand Central services calling once the station opens."

Judith Cummins MP for Bradford South added: "Good transport links are ential for economic success and job creation here in Bradford South and across the region. Work starting on Low Moor station is great news and a major boost for the area."nds of Low Moor Station before we had a station, and we have the possibility of Grand Central services calling once the station opens."

Judith Cummins MP for Bradford South added: "Good transport links are ential for economic success and job creation here in Bradford South and across the region. Work starting on Low Moor station is great news and a major boost for the area."

Apologies if this has been posted already but couldn't see it on search!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

This is so frustrating... Keith Wakefield says the new station will be within easy access of the M62/M606 Interchange... But it'll be within even easier access of the only intermediate junction of the M606 if only access was provided. No, far better to encourage even more traffic through a very busy junction which already causes nearby towns to become gridlocked! :roll:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was the matter of curved platforms one reason why this station stuttered to a halt at the development stage?

How far is the new station site removed from the old station site?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Was the matter of curved platforms one reason why this station stuttered to a halt at the development stage?

How far is the new station site removed from the old station site?

That was an issue, though not as big an obstacle as getting the green light for funding. I think (but I'm not sure) that a derogation was granted allowing a slightly curved construction.

 

[crispy1978]

That was an issue, though not as big an obstacle as getting the green light for funding. I think (but I'm not sure) that a derogation was granted allowing a slightly curved construction.

It is more expensive I understand with a curved structure. That was mentioned on the Wikipedia page, which does state that was a reason for the delay.

 

[55z]

Three problems for the delay for Low Moor station
1. Curved platform not allowed now so derogation had to be obtained.
2. funding
3. Land issue, although all the land for station/access/car parks could be purchased except a small piece of land which needed a compulsory purchase order. Little land remained in railway ownership.
The station platforms are on the Halifax side of the road bridge wheras the old station platforms were on the Bradiord side of the same road bridge.

 

[bluenoxid]

What is the station site like for viewing progress? I assume the nearby road bridge is best?

 

[quantinghome]

You wait 15 years for a new station, then three come along at once...

 

[AndyHudds]

Still no sight of Elland station in the not too distant future though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The station platforms are on the Halifax side of the road bridge wheras the old station platforms were on the Bradiord side of the same road bridge.

Thanks for this answer to my earlier-raised question. I had a feeling that this was the case, but was not sure.

 

[34D]

This is so frustrating... Keith Wakefield says the new station will be within easy access of the M62/M606 Interchange... But it'll be within even easier access of the only intermediate junction of the M606 if only access was provided. No, far better to encourage even more traffic through a very busy junction which already causes nearby towns to become gridlocked! :roll:

Will there be a walking route towards the Euroway estate?

 

[47802]

Well this will be the nearest to where I live although still about 3 miles away, but I'm somewhat sceptical as to the benefits of it, It will be interesting to see how it performs but I'm not overly convinced.

Possibly I could use to go to Manchester but then a change at Halifax will be a minus point, simpler to catch the bus to Dewsbury or Bradford and train from there.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Well this will be the nearest to where I live although still about 3 miles away, but I'm somewhat sceptical as to the benefits of it, It will be interesting to see how it performs but I'm not overly convinced.

Possibly I could use to go to Manchester but then a change at Halifax will be a minus point, simpler to catch the bus to Dewsbury or Bradford and train from there.

It seems to be a general rule that new railway stations or reopened railway stations perform better than expected.
If it was busy in the old days it will be busy now, obviously allowing for the fact that any former branch lines/connecting services no longer exist.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

For Low Moor to be a success, access from the M606 is essential. Though a better than hourly service will be, too.

 

[Andyh82]

For Low Moor to be a success, access from the M606 is essential. Though a better than hourly service will be, too.

What catchment area are you thinking a small local station will have, if you think people will be accessing it via the motorway network?

All of South Bradford, Cleckheaton, northern parts of Calderdale, Shelf, Birkenshaw perhaps, will be ok accessing via Cleckheaton Road.

 

[lejog]

I too am a bit puzzled by the need for a motorway link. AFAIK none has ever been planned or is planned for the future and it would add £millions to the cost. Although if anyone knows different it would be interesting to hear the details.

If the various capacity upgrades to the Calder Valley line planned for CP5 actually happen then Low Moor will likely get a second tph, but it wouid be a local West Yorkshire service, something like a Leeds - Brighouse - Leeds stopper, so unlikely to attract traffic from the motorway network.

 

[Grumpy]

I had to catch a train at Burley Park yesterday. Typical former W Yorks PTE wooden halt . Built cheap but served its purpose-nearly 600k pa users putting it almost in the top 30% UK stations by usage. It’s on a curve but that doesn’t seem to have been a problem. Certainly the passengers weren’t quaking at the thought of stepping up from a wooden platform built on a curve. The car park was full ie the two spaces for non-disabled were taken whilst the disabled space was unused (as most of them seem to be elsewhere)
Today I walked through Otley bus station. I don’t know the annual usage but I suspect several times that of Burley Park and many more routes. This doesn’t have any electronic displays showing when the next bus is due, where it stops, or which bay, but the passengers ( probably on average 40 years older than Burley Park’s) seem to manage with simple printed timetables.
I realise this has been discussed on these forums before, but the delays at the likes of Low Moor, Haxby etc are largely caused by the difficulties justifying and funding high cost of provision as a direct result of the gross over-specification

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I too am a bit puzzled by the need for a motorway link. AFAIK none has ever been planned or is planned for the future and it would add £millions to the cost. Although if anyone knows different it would be interesting to hear the details.

If the various capacity upgrades to the Calder Valley line planned for CP5 actually happen then Low Moor will likely get a second tph, but it wouid be a local West Yorkshire service, something like a Leeds - Brighouse - Leeds stopper, so unlikely to attract traffic from the motorway network.

My comments on a link to the Euroway Trading Estate Junction of the M606 were more based on the fact that the station will be right next to this junction, but Councillor Wakefield emphasised the proximity of the station not to this less-congested and underused junction but to the far busier and more-distant M62/M606 Interchange near Heckmondwike which already causes near-gridlock in both Hecky and Clecky at peak times. The former Transperience museum site at Low Moor could be flattened to create a large car park which if coupled with a better than hourly service would have potential to serve as a well-used Park and Ride facility for the city of Bradford. The motorway network in this part of the world is well-used for relatively short trips in addition to the more typical longer-distance journeys from Manchester and Sheffield.

 

[davetheguard]

I had to catch a train at Burley Park yesterday. Typical former W Yorks PTE wooden halt . Built cheap but served its purpose-nearly 600k pa users putting it almost in the top 30% UK stations by usage. It’s on a curve but that doesn’t seem to have been a problem. Certainly the passengers weren’t quaking at the thought of stepping up from a wooden platform built on a curve. The car park was full ie the two spaces for non-disabled were taken whilst the disabled space was unused (as most of them seem to be elsewhere)
Today I walked through Otley bus station. I don’t know the annual usage but I suspect several times that of Burley Park and many more routes. This doesn’t have any electronic displays showing when the next bus is due, where it stops, or which bay, but the passengers ( probably on average 40 years older than Burley Park’s) seem to manage with simple printed timetables.
I realise this has been discussed on these forums before, but the delays at the likes of Low Moor, Haxby etc are largely caused by the difficulties justifying and funding high cost of provision as a direct result of the gross over-specification

You are of course correct; a combination of Boiling Frogs (to use the Modern Railways term) and much higher standards, mean that worthwhile stations are taking huge amounts of time and money to bring to fruition - or, indeed, not happening at all.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

WYPTE's history of using low-cost solutions to new stations during the 80s and 90s (Slaithwaite, Deighton, Cottingley, Berry Brow to name just a few) undoubtedly brought a big boost to passenger numbers at a time when the growth we see today would have been unimaginable. However, given that both Slaithwaite and Deighton will now need extending in the next few months, the fact that this method of construction is no longer permitted means that to extend these stations is likely to need a complete rebuild.

 

[Welshman]

If it was busy in the old days it will be busy now, obviously allowing for the fact that any former branch lines/connecting services no longer exist.

My experience of Low Moor station towards the end of its former life was that it was far from busy.

It seemed to be more of an operational convenience - adjacent the large mpd and the place where the portions of Manchester-Bradford Exchange/Leeds Central trains were divided and joined-up.

Indeed, after dmus were introduced to the Calder Valley in 1962, and trains began the practice of reversing at Bradford to and from Leeds, its closure soon followed.

 

[lejog]

My comments on a link to the Euroway Trading Estate Junction of the M606 were more based on the fact that the station will be right next to this junction, but Councillor Wakefield emphasised the proximity of the station not to this less-congested and underused junction but to the far busier and more-distant M62/M606 Interchange near Heckmondwike which already causes near-gridlock in both Hecky and Clecky at peak times. The former Transperience museum site at Low Moor could be flattened to create a large car park which if coupled with a better than hourly service would have potential to serve as a well-used Park and Ride facility for the city of Bradford. The motorway network in this part of the world is well-used for relatively short trips in addition to the more typical longer-distance journeys from Manchester and Sheffield.

The use of the Transperience site as a car park was explicity ruled out as being too far from the station. (Google leads to this document which states it would be a 988m/8min walk in each direction). IIRC land off Dealburn Rd has been purchased if there is any need to expand the initial car park.

In the specific case of accessing Low Moor I agree with Andyh82 that the likely catchment area is adequately served by Cleakheaton Rd, but whatever the pros and cons, direct access from the motorway has never been part of the plan and isn't going to happen.

 

[BantamMenace]

Sorry for such a basic question but which services are planned to stop here and how often?

 

[Haydn1971]

Sorry for such a basic question but which services are planned to stop here and how often?

Probably all the services that stop at Halifax - there was at one stage a station also planned for Hipperholme too.

 

[Welshman]

Sorry for such a basic question but which services are planned to stop here and how often?

I thought I'd read somewhere that it would be only the Bradford-Huddersfield services, and not the Leeds-Manchesters.

Hence the complaint that one train per hour is not sufficient for a park and ride station.

 

[quantinghome]

WYPTE's history of using low-cost solutions to new stations during the 80s and 90s (Slaithwaite, Deighton, Cottingley, Berry Brow to name just a few) undoubtedly brought a big boost to passenger numbers at a time when the growth we see today would have been unimaginable. However, given that both Slaithwaite and Deighton will now need extending in the next few months, the fact that this method of construction is no longer permitted means that to extend these stations is likely to need a complete rebuild.

Cottingley was extended not long ago using a wooden framework.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Sorry for such a basic question but which services are planned to stop here and how often?

Probably all the services that stop at Halifax - there was at one stage a station also planned for Hipperholme too.

I thought I'd read somewhere that it would be only the Bradford-Huddersfield services, and not the Leeds-Manchesters.

Hence the complaint that one train per hour is not sufficient for a park and ride station.

The latter is correct: initially just the Selby to Huddersfield services will call, though I believe Grand Central also plan to call there.

Cottingley was extended not long ago using a wooden framework.

Oh... Perhaps the Slaithwaite and Deighton issues won't be such a problem then. Though they need to get a move on or it'll be local door only on 185s, which will be fun!

 

[lejog]

Probably all the services that stop at Halifax - there was at one stage a station also planned for Hipperholme too.

As others have said it is certainly only 1tph currently for Northern services. When both Bradford-Manchester services have been speeded up by omitting all intermediate stops in Greater Manchester apart from Rochdale, it would be really taking the **** by WYMetro to slow the services down by stopping them at Low Moor. The Calder Valley line is planned to have something like £70m spent on it during CP5 to reduce journey times, not increase them. As I said earlier in this thread.

If the various capacity upgrades to the Calder Valley line planned for CP5 actually happen then Low Moor will likely get a second tph, but it wouid be a local West Yorkshire service, something like a Leeds - Brighouse - Leeds stopper, so unlikely to attract traffic from the motorway network.

It could just be a Leeds to Halifax service, stopping at the new third platform at Halifax. Whatever the general idea is strengthen capacity at both ends of the Calder Valley line by running stopping local services and running faster through trains stopping at larger stations only.

 

[bluenoxid]

When people mention a third platform at Halifax, I am left wondering if that is the best place? Could Brighouse be a better place for a terminating point considering the potential for Elland to rejoin the network.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There was at one stage a station also planned for Hipperholme too.

Oh for those good old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway days when stations got built as a matter of course. They opened Hipperholme station in 1850. It closed for passengers in 1953 (when I was eight years of age) and for goods in 1966