Bradford Forster Square 4th Platform Funding Announced: what improvements would you like to see made?

[stephen rp]

The Shipley by pass comment by the PM was purely illustrative of the possibilities and not a commitment as was clarified later.

Welcome to "Network North". It's the new "40 new hospitals".

 

[MichaelTrains]

Right, it's just that you were complaining about having to walk down the platforms and used today as a good example. It seemed rather random given that no trains are running.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2024 ==


Hopefully!

If you know the station then you’ll know they double stack and even treble stack trains on top of each other on a regular basis.

Strike day or non strike day.

I’ve seen people miss their train because there is zero information about the service said passengers need being the one right at the end of the platform.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Would 7 trains to London not wipe out Grand Central’s operation from Bradford Interchange?

I mean, to be honest, that’s not LNER’s problem.

 

[Halifaxlad]

They'll be wanting to demolish Centenary Court office block and put the station back where it was next!

"I think Bradford Council's next project should be to purchase Centenary Court when it closes as a Tax Office in 2027, demolish it, and redevelop the site as a more attract entranceway to the city."

That might not be a bad idea!

You extend each platform by 140 meters if you did!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

That might not be a bad idea!

You extend each platform by 140 meters if you did!

Just to clarify, not sure what's gone on with the quoting system, but the quote above attributed to me is not my words.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just to clarify, not sure what's gone on with the quoting system, but the quote above attributed to me is not my words.

It’s long needed help, I battle with it every single day

 

[Harvey B]

Who knows maybe the possible investment might even convince Northern to give the Skipton and Ilkley routes our 2tph off-peak services back. (I can dream).

Isn't that going to be the plan anyway once Northern start running doubled up 331s on the Triangle?

 

[Bantamzen]

Isn't that going to be the plan anyway once Northern start running doubled up 331s on the Triangle?

I was under the impression that the reduction was permanent.

 

[InkyScrolls]

The services will be going up to 2 tph at some point in the near future - @Neptune are you able to give specifics?

 

[Harvey B]

I think Bradford Council's next project should be to purchase Centenary Court when it closes as a Tax Office in 2027, demolish it, and redevelop the site as a more attract entranceway to the city.

I belieeve this was the quote that @Halifaxlad was after

Just to clarify, not sure what's gone on with the quoting system, but the quote above attributed to me is not my words.

 

[Neptune]

The services will be going up to 2 tph at some point in the near future - @Neptune are you able to give specifics?

Dec ‘24 for back up to 2tph through the day is the current plan.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Dec ‘24 for back up to 2tph through the day is the current plan.

Thank you - I knew it wasn't permanent but didn't want to put a date on it based on 'a source'!

 

[Halifaxlad]

Just to clarify, not sure what's gone on with the quoting system, but the quote above attributed to me is not my words.

My apologises.

I think two boxes ended up joined when I was typing before I separated them and deleted what I was going to quote from you. Anyway will rectify that shortly.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

My apologises.

I think two boxes ended up joined when I was typing before I separated them and deleted what I was going to quote from you. Anyway will rectify that shortly.

No worries- I was just confused when I got a notification which took me to a quote that wasn't mine!

 

[Bantamzen]

Dec ‘24 for back up to 2tph through the day is the current plan.

I do hope this happens, the off-peak services are a pain at the moment and certainly have not helped promote rail over road in my area.

 

[Harvey B]

I was under the impression that the reduction was permanent.

The services will be going up to 2 tph at some point in the near future - @Neptune are you able to give specifics?

Dec ‘24 for back up to 2tph through the day is the current plan.

I had a feeling this was the case (I think they're waiting on 6 car 331s to start running some of the Triangle Diagrams).

 

[Bob55G]

I do hope this happens, the off-peak services are a pain at the moment and certainly have not helped promote rail over road in my area.

I do as well. On a reasonably regular basis I used to get the train from Guiseley-Shipley (ILK to BDQ) then Shipley-Crossflatts (BDQ-SKI) with a reliable 5 minute connection time at Shipley prior to the service reduction of the Forster Square to Ilkley & Skipton services. Connection times are now really poor, driving not an option as my visit was to the Goose Eye brewery tap at Crossflatts - supporting local businesses!

 

[rower40]

Do any of the Bradford platforms ever have THREE trains in? Or is there just space for two? (Apart from platform 3 at only 100m long)

 

[AJG3]

I'm just stumped on how an earth a platform extension / new platform can amount to £24m !!!

Includes the risk assessment

 

[JR108]

I've edited this photo I took in 1993 just after the opening of the new Bfd. FSq. with the old station in the background being demolished. I've marked on how the new 'Platform 0' will actually recreate a short section of the original 'Platform 1'. All this begs the question about the short-sightedness of the original plan to truncate the terminus for a shopping centre only to see a UK Gov. Tax Office being built there after failing to reach agreement with anyone who wanted the old station for commercial reasons. Now the Tax Office is due to close and move to Leeds in 2027 https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18301692.hmrc-stay-bradford-u-turn-city-office-closure/

 

[InkyScrolls]

I've edited this photo I took in 1993 just after the opening of the new Bfd. FSq. with the old station in the background being demolished. I've marked on how the new 'Platform 0' will actually recreate a short section of the original 'Platform 1'. All this begs the question about the short-sightedness of the original plan to truncate the terminus for a shopping centre only to see a UK Gov. Tax Office being built there after failing to reach agreement with anyone who wanted the old station for commercial reasons. Now the Tax Office is due to close and move to Leeds in 2027 and Network Rail are wanting to buy back railway land which should never have been sold in the first place.

View attachment 151603

That is a very interesting photo - thank you for providing that.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

To be fair the old Bradford FS was a bit of dump, having lost its overall roof in the early 1950s and then in a long downward spiral. But yes, rebuilding on the same site would have been preferable, rather than its current location stuck down a side road and further away from the city centre.

 

[Class 170101]

Surely it would just be cheaper to build a siding rather than a platform zero if all thats causing it is Northern parking trains up in the platform(s)?

 

[JR108]

Sir Felix Pole said; To be fair the old Bradford FS was a bit of dump, having lost its overall roof in the early 1950s and then in a long downward spiral. But yes, rebuilding on the same site would have been preferable, rather than its current location stuck down a side road and further away from the city centre.

Agreed, yes the old station was a dump, but those extra few metres towards the city centre and better connectivity count for a lot. They could have truncated (sold-off) land towards the side, rather than the whole lot. one interesting comparison would be London Marylebone were the two furthest western platforms were sold in 1980s but, the main station remained intact and was subsequently refurbished.

 

[zwk500]

Surely it would just be cheaper to build a siding rather than a platform zero if all thats causing it is Northern parking trains up in the platform(s)?

A bit cheaper but much less useful.

 

[yorksrob]

Agreed, yes the old station was a dump, but those extra few metres towards the city centre and better connectivity count for a lot. They could have truncated (sold-off) land towards the side, rather than the whole lot. one interesting comparison would be London Marylebone were the two furthest western platforms were sold in 1980s but, the main station remained intact and was subsequently refurbished.

Hull Paragon is the example that springs to mind.

It is indeed a paragon.

 

[YorksLad12]

I've edited this photo I took in 1993 just after the opening of the new Bfd. FSq. with the old station in the background being demolished. I've marked on how the new 'Platform 0' will actually recreate a short section of the original 'Platform 1'. All this begs the question about the short-sightedness of the original plan to truncate the terminus for a shopping centre only to see a UK Gov. Tax Office being built there after failing to reach agreement with anyone who wanted the old station for commercial reasons. Now the Tax Office is due to close and move to Leeds in 2027 https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18301692.hmrc-stay-bradford-u-turn-city-office-closure/

View attachment 151603

Nice photo.

To be fair, 30 years ago these decisions would have made sense; as would the decisions about Exchange/Interchange, 20 years before that. Rail was in decline, and assumed to continue, despite what the PTEs were thinking and doing.

 

[30907]

Nice photo.

To be fair, 30 years ago these decisions would have made sense; as would the decisions about Exchange/Interchange, 20 years before that. Rail was in decline, and assumed to continue, despite what the PTEs were thinking and doing.

The decision to build the new station on the edge of the site made commercial sense, but it would have been better to have it nearer the Midland Hotel. It's only 100-150m more but it feels a lot.
Mind you, back then the Cheapside/Manor Row entrance led to the most thriving part of town (Kirkgate Centre/Darley St) and things have moved on there....

 

[Kingston Dan]

This was on Sky news last night, and the guy they had on was talking about how the railways are incapable of delivering anything to time and to budget like the GWML electrification and HS2. He also said the benefits were not a substitute for the foregone HS2 extension and piecemeal electrification per year was needed that would allow the NR to get more efficient at doing it.

I digress but small projects like these need to work out well for NR. After all this has only been greenlit as part of the funds released from HS2 for the investment for the North plan.

There are no funds released from HS2 to the 'North plan'. If any investment is forthcoming it will be borrowed on its own merits and if the idiot Sunak is somehow elected as PM it will all go on roads (and private jets).

 

[JR108]

Nice photo.

To be fair, 30 years ago these decisions would have made sense; as would the decisions about Exchange/Interchange, 20 years before that. Rail was in decline, and assumed to continue, despite what the PTEs were thinking and doing.

30907 Said; The decision to build the new station on the edge of the site made commercial sense, but it would have been better to have it nearer the Midland Hotel. It's only 100-150m more but it feels a lot.
Mind you, back then the Cheapside/Manor Row entrance led to the most thriving part of town (Kirkgate Centre/Darley St) and things have moved on there....

Whilst the new platform is welcome and will certainly help alleviate congestion. It does seem somewhat ironic that it will effectively recreate a short section of the old bay platform one. The original 1990s idea was to build a new FDQ on the site of an old freight siding and have people / passengers walk thru the arcade to get to the platforms (thus helping all important foot-fall). Something similar happened at London Victoria when the Brighton platforms were truncated. Although Victoria Place sits above the station in that instance. Unfortunately this intended commercial vision never happened as 'The Broadway Centre' was built on a different site. This left a legacy of a new, but rather remote station on the edge of the centre at the bottom of a slope and a large retaining wall. Connectivity is key and I am afraid & Bfd scored an own goal in this instance. A lot of what has been done since is only trying to patch up this intrinsic problem. I fully agree with 30907's comment about 'the 100/150m feeling a lot longer.' What would I do? Demolish the remains of the old station wall by the Midland Hotel to open the area up to more light and space. Widen the ground level pedestrian link to Lower Kirkgate and create a 'pocket park'. I would also look into to creating a set of steps / ramp if possible down from the Hamm Strasse ring road bridge down to the new platform or some other kind of entranceway from the north. This might help football fans access the station from the nearby Valley Parade ground.