Bradford: Would it benefit from having one central station?

[fowler9]

I just wanted to add that I wasn't just knocking Bradford earlier on on the thread sasying it is a suburb of Leeds. I loved the 4 years I spent there. The reason I chose Bradford above other Universities (As well as the good engineering course they did) was the fact they got more death metal gigs than anywhere outside London in the old Queens Hall and also Bradford Rios. Sadly neither of them exist any more, well, the Queens Hall still does but last time I was there it was a crap Its A Scream pub and was vastly different to when it was a gig venue. I think Rios is in Leeds now, or at least it was.

As I said previously Bradford seemed to die even while I was there because everyone living there went to Leeds instead. At that time Leeds had nothing that Bradford didn't have apart from Harvey Nicks, it was just bigger. Building a through train station will not change this.

 

[Bantamzen]

I just wanted to add that I wasn't just knocking Bradford earlier on on the thread sasying it is a suburb of Leeds. I loved the 4 years I spent there. The reason I chose Bradford above other Universities (As well as the good engineering course they did) was the fact they got more death metal gigs than anywhere outside London in the old Queens Hall and also Bradford Rios. Sadly neither of them exist any more, well, the Queens Hall still does but last time I was there it was a crap Its A Scream pub and was vastly different to when it was a gig venue. I think Rios is in Leeds now, or at least it was.

As I said previously Bradford seemed to die even while I was there because everyone living there went to Leeds instead. At that time Leeds had nothing that Bradford didn't have apart from Harvey Nicks, it was just bigger. Building a through train station will not change this.

Well there is movement on getting Bradford back into the gig scene, with quite a lot of people working hard to try and restart what Bradford once had. Rios has gone, but other clubs & pubs are starting to make an impact, and if things work out well the Odeon building may open up as a music / arts venue. So it's not all hope is lost here just yet, Bradford still has a pulse and might one day make a refreshing change from the rather corporate by day, and frankly trashy by night Leeds. And although a through link is near impossible now, providing better links to both stations will only help enhance efforts being made in the city to make things better.

 

[fowler9]

Well there is movement on getting Bradford back into the gig scene, with quite a lot of people working hard to try and restart what Bradford once had. Rios has gone, but other clubs & pubs are starting to make an impact, and if things work out well the Odeon building may open up as a music / arts venue. So it's not all hope is lost here just yet, Bradford still has a pulse and might one day make a refreshing change from the rather corporate by day, and frankly trashy by night Leeds. And although a through link is near impossible now, providing better links to both stations will only help enhance efforts being made in the city to make things better.

That is really good to hear mate. When I lived there the music scene for what I was in to was second to none. The Queens Hall was an amazing venue for the kind of bands I am in to. Several of them were from West Yorkshire but Bradford hosted gigs from similar kinds of bands from across the world. I'm still not convinced that a through railway station would change the current situation.

 

[Deerfold]

There's a new Rio's in Bradford City Centre. Not tried it yet. Had much fun at the old one including my second date with my wife.

 

[fowler9]

There's a new Rio's in Bradford City Centre. Not tried it yet. Had much fun at the old one including my second date with my wife.

Blimey, I didn't know that! Where is it? I met my second serious girlfriend at the one down Woodhead Road. We lived down the road on Rugby Place.

 

[AndyHudds]

Saw the worst gig of my life at Rio's, Cro-Mags, there was about 12 people there. Fair play to the band they played a full set though.

Seen some top gigs there too, Shelter, Biohazard and Paradise Lost to mention but a few.

 

[fowler9]

Saw the worst gig of my life at Rio's, Cro-Mags, there was about 12 people there. Fair play to the band they played a full set though.

Seen some top gigs there too, Shelter, Biohazard and Paradise Lost to mention but a few.

What year was the Shelter gig? They can't have played Rios that many times and I was at one of them during the 90's. I saw Paradise Lost at the Bradford Students Union and also the St Georges Hall with my mates band Anathema supporting.

I was on the guest list for a Life Of Agony gig at Rios and also my other mates band Carcass.

One of the best gigs I ever went to was in the Queens Hall. Dismember were on first and then Obituary, Napalm Death were on last as they were on a co headlining tour with Obituary. It was called the Campaign for Musical Destruction tour.

 

[Darren R]

And perhaps Bradford could do with more direct services to places - but you'll just annoy people if you provide them instead of the services they use at the moment to get to Leeds - in the same way Calder Valley passengers were annoyed that though they still have 2 tph to Leeds, only 1 tph goes to Bradford any more (and even worse the new service was introduced before the old one was withdrawn).

That in itself doesn't help - I used to go to Bradford by train from Sowerby Bridge. It's only in the peak that the service is any better than 1tph now when for years it was 2tph (and even then there's gaps of more than 30 minutes). Although it takes longer to get to Leeds there's 2tph back.

I understand the point you make (and I agree that a basic hourly service to Bradford is pretty poor and a retrograde step.) However...

Two points occur to me:

Firstly, the fact that train services to Bradford have been reduced sort of shows that there just isn't the demand for it. This could be down to a lack of demand at the Calder Valley stations to go to any destination, or that there isn't the demand to go specifically to Bradford (or Halifax). There are still two trains per hour to Leeds, which again sort of shows that's the main passenger destination.

Secondly - is it necessarily a bad thing to have lost some trains? It might just result in people who would have gone to Leeds on the train to do their shopping instead choosing to do it more locally. What towns in West Yorkshire need is for less people to do their shopping in Leeds and spend their money locally instead.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Secondly - is it necessarily a bad thing to have lost some trains? It might just result in people who would have gone to Leeds on the train to do their shopping instead choosing to do it more locally. What towns in West Yorkshire need is for less people to do their shopping in Leeds and spend their money locally instead.

To hope to give a response to your posting, I wonder what the loading levels on the buses that serve Bradford Interchange are like.

 

[Deerfold]

I understand the point you make (and I agree that a basic hourly service to Bradford is pretty poor and a retrograde step.) However...

Two points occur to me:

Firstly, the fact that train services to Bradford have been reduced sort of shows that there just isn't the demand for it. This could be down to a lack of demand at the Calder Valley stations to go to any destination, or that there isn't the demand to go specifically to Bradford (or Halifax). There are still two trains per hour to Leeds, which again sort of shows that's the main passenger destination.

Demand at the Calder Valley stations is generally increasing. At Sowerby Bridge it has nearly doubled in the last 6 years. Trains are regularly standing room only.

There were many complaints locally when the changes were made as many people commute for work to Halifax and Bradford - there are frequent buses along the Valley to Halifax but they are rather slower - and don't help much in getting to Bradford. Commuters now have 2 trains an hour from Bradford in the peak, but 12 minutes apart.

Secondly - is it necessarily a bad thing to have lost some trains? It might just result in people who would have gone to Leeds on the train to do their shopping instead choosing to do it more locally. What towns in West Yorkshire need is for less people to do their shopping in Leeds and spend their money locally instead.

Ask the people who are trying to get to work if it's a bad thing.

I suspect people will either get the train to where they want to shop or jump in their car. There's various types of shopping that aren't possible to do locally.

I'm unsure if you're familiar with Hebden Bridge, possible one of the towns in the country where people are most keen on shopping locally and sustainably wherever possible. They still want to be able to get to work in Bradford.

It's also bad for connections - I travel from time to time from Keighley to Sowerby Bridge. That's now only possible once an hour via Bradford and going via Leeds adds nearly 30 minutes onto the journey - making it much easier for my wife and I to hop in the car.

 

[AndyLandy]

Well, that's us told. I thought the discussion was about a central station for Bradford. The through facility is a bonus.

Am I missing something here? Surely the advantage of a through station is that it would permit through journeys?

As for the rest of the thread, the tl;dr is "Yes, Bradford probably would benefit from a central through station, but not enough for it to be worth doing."

 

[fowler9]

Am I missing something here? Surely the advantage of a through station is that it would permit through journeys?

As for the rest of the thread, the tl;dr is "Yes, Bradford probably would benefit from a central through station, but not enough for it to be worth doing."

Well thats it, it would probably be good but it would also probably cost millions for all of those dozens people who want to go direct from Skipton and Ilkley to Halifax by train.

 

[billio]

It looks like this discussion is now academic as local TV news anounced that the developers plan to start work on the space in the middle of Bradford in January.

 

[Darren R]

It looks like this discussion is now academic as local TV news anounced that the developers plan to start work on the space in the middle of Bradford in January.

Ah - but did they say which January?

 

[CalderRail]

Firstly, the fact that train services to Bradford have been reduced sort of shows that there just isn't the demand for it. This could be down to a lack of demand at the Calder Valley stations to go to any destination, or that there isn't the demand to go specifically to Bradford (or Halifax). There are still two trains per hour to Leeds, which again sort of shows that's the main passenger destination.

Standing room only on my regular 08:21 (Selby via Halifax & Leeds semi-fast) from Hebden Bridge most mornings. Sometimes Northern short the service so badly that people get left behind or can't get on at Halifax.

The 07:41 (Leeds via Brig), 07:50 (York via Halifax), 08:00 (Leeds via Halifax all stops) and 08:41 (Leeds via Brig) are all about as bad. The 08:50 York train is a bit better, but not much.
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How is Bradford Interchange viewed by the numbers of people using this transport facility. Are there regular letters to local newspapers complaining that the Interchange is situated in an inconvenient situation ?

The interchange is horrible. I have to go through it for work 3 or 4 times a week, It stinks, the arrangement of tracks means that when the timetable goes to pot because of one problem it causes extra problems because any Leeds-bound trains have to cross the whole station throat on either exit or entry, and even Halifax-bound trains typically cut down the ability to run multiple services in or out simultaneously.

Its position with respect to the rest of the city centre is the least of its problems though.

Its only good point is the presence of the bus station in the same facility.
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This again. Well, my two cents.

It is a worthwhile project, but only as part of a wider scheme of improvements to the network in Greater Leeds

This would include (but not be limited to)

'The Proposal'

1. Re-Quadrupling the line between Leeds & Shipley, with the reintroduction of stations at Armley Canal Road, Kirkstall Abbey, Calverley & Rodley and Idle (in addition to Kirkstall Forge & Apperley Bridge)

2. The Re-opening of Horbury Bridge - Low Moor, giving Bradford a line to Wakefield avoiding Leeds

3. The re-opening of the Horbury West Curve (creating a direct Bradford-Sheffield route avoiding Barnsley).

4. The (re)opening of stations on the Bradford-Leeds via New Pudsey line. These being Laisterdyke, Armley Moor and New Wortley.

5. A New 6 platform station in Bradford City Centre, with 4 through platforms and 2 south-facing bay platforms.

6. Electrification of:

6a: the Caldervale line between Leeds, Manchester Victoria & Preston
6b: the Mirfield - Halifax / Sowerby Bridge line
6c: the lines slated for re-opening above
6d: the Leeds-Sheffield via Barnsley line

Benefits of the 'the Proposal'

1. Direct through services to Bradford from Sheffield, with potential for services to London via Barnsley all operating on the MML wires.

2. 'Cross City' services from Wakefield Kirkgate & Huddersfield to Ilkley & Skipton

3. Journey time savings on Caldervale through avoidal of reversing at Bradford. It is 18 minutes Leeds-Bradford FS calling Shipley only, the same time as Leeds-Interchange. Avoiding reversal times would allow quicker journeys from the Caldervale into Leeds.

4. More intense Leeds-Bradford services serving more stations (separation of regional & local trains onto A&W slows & Pudsey line)

5. Potential for further inter-regional passenger services to the NW through Bradford (e.g. from Nottingham, avoiding need for reversal at Leeds)

6. Alleviating of capacity constraints at Leeds station throat by diverting freight crossing it from SE to NW

7. Reduce passenger congestion at Leeds by offering bypass routes (e.g. to join the train to London at Wakefield)

I love the end result of this plan, but the fact is that you'll never be able to do it all in one stop. You need to break it down into achievable steps, each of which has a business plan of its own and can be justified entirely unto itself.

 

[Bantamzen]

Ah - but did they say which January?

To be fair, work is slowly starting to happen in the hole. They've even reopened the site offices abandoned many years ago!

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Demand at the Calder Valley stations is generally increasing. At Sowerby Bridge it has nearly doubled in the last 6 years. Trains are regularly standing room only.

There were many complaints locally when the changes were made as many people commute for work to Halifax and Bradford - there are frequent buses along the Valley to Halifax but they are rather slower - and don't help much in getting to Bradford. Commuters now have 2 trains an hour from Bradford in the peak, but 12 minutes apart.




Ask the people who are trying to get to work if it's a bad thing.

I suspect people will either get the train to where they want to shop or jump in their car. There's various types of shopping that aren't possible to do locally.

I'm unsure if you're familiar with Hebden Bridge, possible one of the towns in the country where people are most keen on shopping locally and sustainably wherever possible. They still want to be able to get to work in Bradford.

It's also bad for connections - I travel from time to time from Keighley to Sowerby Bridge. That's now only possible once an hour via Bradford and going via Leeds adds nearly 30 minutes onto the journey - making it much easier for my wife and I to hop in the car.

Surely the point of the timetable changes was to provide faster services between Bradford and Manchester.

I travel regularly between Bradford and Ellesmere Port and don't use the train as it is a tortuous journey involving two changes and about 30 stops (unless you go via Huddersfield) taking almost 4 hours door to door.

A city as big as Bradford needs through express services to a wider range of destinations including Liverpool, Sheffield & Birmingham as well as more trains to London.

And if the cross-city link was ever built I would expect S&C trains to be routed through Bradford.

The decision to terminate HS2 at a dead end platform in Leeds, some distance from the main Leeds City station, is another nail in Bradford's coffin.

If the Chester - Bradford service comes off as part of the Northern hub, I would start using the trains again. But I can't see it happening as they will start arguing about which franchise it should be in and what sort of units they should use.

Through trains between Liverpool and Bradford were withdrawn some years ago because the three PTE's couldn't agree about units.

 

[fowler9]

Surely the point of the timetable changes was to provide faster services between Bradford and Manchester.

I travel regularly between Bradford and Ellesmere Port and don't use the train as it is a tortuous journey involving two changes and about 30 stops (unless you go via Huddersfield) taking almost 4 hours door to door.

A city as big as Bradford needs through express services to a wider range of destinations including Liverpool, Sheffield & Birmingham as well as more trains to London.

And if the cross-city link was ever built I would expect S&C trains to be routed through Bradford.

The decision to terminate HS2 at a dead end platform in Leeds, some distance from the main Leeds City station, is another nail in Bradford's coffin.

If the Chester - Bradford service comes off as part of the Northern hub, I would start using the trains again. But I can't see it happening as they will start arguing about which franchise it should be in and what sort of units they should use.

Through trains between Liverpool and Bradford were withdrawn some years ago because the three PTE's couldn't agree about units.

Blimey mate, Bradford to Ellesmere Port isn't really a main trunk route. How often do you make that journey?

 

[quantinghome]

A city as big as Bradford needs through express services to a wider range of destinations including Liverpool, Sheffield & Birmingham as well as more trains to London.

Fair enough, but let's not pretend services from Leeds to these places are 'express'. over 2hrs to Birmingham, 45 minutes to Sheffield, nearly 2hrs to Liverpool! From May 2014 Bradford-Liverpool will be significantly easier thanks to the new faster transpennine service via Manchester Victoria. We have to face the fact that Bradford's location means even if disused routes are reopened, the scope for such express services is likely to be limited.

And if the cross-city link was ever built I would expect S&C trains to be routed through Bradford.

This would add 20 minutes to an already slow journey. It would then be quicker for Leeds passengers to change at Shipley. Bradford passengers have 6 trains per hour to Shipley to connect to the current service. Could be a lot worse.

The decision to terminate HS2 at a dead end platform in Leeds, some distance from the main Leeds City station, is another nail in Bradford's coffin.

I don't see why this should be the case. Even with (say) a 10 minute increase in connection time at Leeds the faster service to London will still mean that overall London-Bradford journeys are 40 minutes quicker. I don't think any HS station option for Leeds would have included direct HS2 services to Bradford. Also direct services from Bradford are being considered as part of the post-HS2 ECML timetable recast.

If the Chester - Bradford service comes off as part of the Northern hub, I would start using the trains again. But I can't see it happening as they will start arguing about which franchise it should be in and what sort of units they should use.

Through trains between Liverpool and Bradford were withdrawn some years ago because the three PTE's couldn't agree about units.

I think this is overly pessimistic. These sort of discussions are part of any new service proposal. Most likely it would be a Northern Rail service. By the time Northern Hub opens, the rolling stock cascade from Thameslink to electrified North-West routes will be well underway and there should be sufficient diesels released to provide the direct service (although as it's effectively combining two current services it may not need a net increase in stock). Bear in mind also that all the northern PTEs are working a lot closer together now (Rail North etc.)

 

[BantamMenace]

Would the addition of a central station also warrant the construction of a station somewhere near the Hamm Strasser (spelling unsure of) so to increase (or maintain) access to the foster square retail park and valley parade for us bradford city fans? The construction of both the followed by the demolition of foster square and the interchange or the conversion of one into stabling for Yorkshire's soon to increase EMU fleet.

 

[Aictos]

Standing room only on my regular 08:21 (Selby via Halifax & Leeds semi-fast) from Hebden Bridge most mornings. Sometimes Northern short the service so badly that people get left behind or can't get on at Halifax.

The 07:41 (Leeds via Brig), 07:50 (York via Halifax), 08:00 (Leeds via Halifax all stops) and 08:41 (Leeds via Brig) are all about as bad. The 08:50 York train is a bit better, but not much.
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The interchange is horrible. I have to go through it for work 3 or 4 times a week, It stinks, the arrangement of tracks means that when the timetable goes to pot because of one problem it causes extra problems because any Leeds-bound trains have to cross the whole station throat on either exit or entry, and even Halifax-bound trains typically cut down the ability to run multiple services in or out simultaneously.

Its position with respect to the rest of the city centre is the least of its problems though.

Its only good point is the presence of the bus station in the same facility.
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I love the end result of this plan, but the fact is that you'll never be able to do it all in one stop. You need to break it down into achievable steps, each of which has a business plan of its own and can be justified entirely unto itself.

The Caldervale line is that the main route between Leeds and Preston via Hebden Bridge, Accrington, Blackburn etc...?

 

[BantamMenace]

Caldervale is the line through Halifax heading towards Manchester Vic via he den bridge and Rochdale

The line you refer to through burnley, Blackburn and on to Preston is refered to as the Copy Pit line

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The line you refer to through Burnley, Blackburn and on to Preston is referred to as the Copy Pit line

That line, which normally carries the Blackpool North to York rail service of Northern Rail, is currently out of commission in the Copy Pit line area on account of the scheduled infrastructural works on the Holme Tunnel (Saturday, 9th November 2013 to Friday, 28th March 2014).

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Blimey mate, Bradford to Ellesmere Port isn't really a main trunk route. How often do you make that journey?

About 20-25 times a season for my sins (actually in the Ellesmere Port - Bradford direction). I also drive to Headingley about 5 times a year for similar reasons.

Ellesmere Port (60,000 approx) to Bradford (300,000 approx) may not be a huge flow. However it is typical of the many journeys that people make on the M62 between northern towns and cities not lucky enough to have decent connections to fast rail services.

These include (to varying extents) Bury, Oldham, Leigh, Skelmersdale, Northwich, Barnsley, Keighley, Bridlington, Whitby, Wrexham, and so on.

I want to see a decent interconnected network providing decent rail services for the whole of the north. There is life outside Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

That the biggest flows are where the best trains go is a self fulfilling prophecy. The railways are subsidised by the tax payer and so good services should be for everybody, not just the chosen elite.

 

[fowler9]

About 20-25 times a season for my sins (actually in the Ellesmere Port - Bradford direction). I also drive to Headingley about 5 times a year for similar reasons.

Ellesmere Port (60,000 approx) to Bradford (300,000 approx) may not be a huge flow. However it is typical of the many journeys that people make on the M62 between northern towns and cities not lucky enough to have decent connections to fast rail services.

These include (to varying extents) Bury, Oldham, Leigh, Skelmersdale, Northwich, Barnsley, Keighley, Bridlington, Whitby, Wrexham, and so on.

I want to see a decent interconnected network providing decent rail services for the whole of the north. There is life outside Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

That the biggest flows are where the best trains go is a self fulfilling prophecy. The railways are subsidised by the tax payer and so good services should be for everybody, not just the chosen elite.

Fair play mate. That is a bit of a tedious slow journey you have to make!

 

[Moonshot]

About 20-25 times a season for my sins (actually in the Ellesmere Port - Bradford direction). I also drive to Headingley about 5 times a year for similar reasons.

Ellesmere Port (60,000 approx) to Bradford (300,000 approx) may not be a huge flow. However it is typical of the many journeys that people make on the M62 between northern towns and cities not lucky enough to have decent connections to fast rail services.

These include (to varying extents) Bury, Oldham, Leigh, Skelmersdale, Northwich, Barnsley, Keighley, Bridlington, Whitby, Wrexham, and so on.

I want to see a decent interconnected network providing decent rail services for the whole of the north. There is life outside Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

That the biggest flows are where the best trains go is a self fulfilling prophecy. The railways are subsidised by the tax payer and so good services should be for everybody, not just the chosen elite.

Would you be prepared to pay an extra 2% income tax on condition that it was spent investing in the rail network?

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Fair enough, but let's not pretend services from Leeds to these places are 'express'. over 2hrs to Birmingham, 45 minutes to Sheffield, nearly 2hrs to Liverpool! From May 2014 Bradford-Liverpool will be significantly easier thanks to the new faster transpennine service via Manchester Victoria. We have to face the fact that Bradford's location means even if disused routes are reopened, the scope for such express services is likely to be limited.

Several express services terminate at Leeds and could continue to Bradford in the same way as Birmingham services continue to Wolverhamption and cardiff services continue to Swansea.

This would add 20 minutes to an already slow journey. It would then be quicker for Leeds passengers to change at Shipley. Bradford passengers have 6 trains per hour to Shipley to connect to the current service. Could be a lot worse.

Pity the poor people of Leeds. Bradford passengers have to suffer a 100 minute journey just to get to Doncaster which is less than 40 miles away by road.

I don't see why this should be the case. Even with (say) a 10 minute increase in connection time at Leeds the faster service to London will still mean that overall London-Bradford journeys are 40 minutes quicker. I don't think any HS station option for Leeds would have included direct HS2 services to Bradford. Also direct services from Bradford are being considered as part of the post-HS2 ECML timetable recast.

Second best again. When I travel from Ellesmere Port on business, my employers get me a taxi to Runcorn or Chester rather than have me mess about on second class local trains.

Most Bradford businessmen drive to Wakefield Westgate rather than cram into NT cattle trucks. They won't have this option with HS2 and will have to suffer horrendous Leeds traffic jams and rip-off parking charges.

HS2 should connect seamlessly with the national rail network in the same way that ICE's do in Germany. Bradford is of similar size to Newcastle and far bigger than York and so it is not unreasonable to ask for some of the many Leeds HS2 trains to run to one of its two statiions.

I think this is overly pessimistic. These sort of discussions are part of any new service proposal. Most likely it would be a Northern Rail service. By the time Northern Hub opens, the rolling stock cascade from Thameslink to electrified North-West routes will be well underway and there should be sufficient diesels released to provide the direct service (although as it's effectively combining two current services it may not need a net increase in stock). Bear in mind also that all the northern PTEs are working a lot closer together now (Rail North etc.)

Arriva Trains Wales is a far better operator than Northern and there would be uproar if the comfortable 175's were replaced by Northern's ancient stock.

Chester and North Wales aren't covered by a PTE.
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Would you be prepared to pay an extra 2% income tax on condition that it was spent investing in the rail network?

I would be more than willing to pay more in tax, but 2%!? If we all paid that, it would raise billions and would pay off the national debt!
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Would the addition of a central station also warrant the construction of a station somewhere near the Hamm Strasser (spelling unsure of) so to increase (or maintain) access to the foster square retail park and valley parade for us bradford city fans? The construction of both the followed by the demolition of foster square and the interchange or the conversion of one into stabling for Yorkshire's soon to increase EMU fleet.

Didn't Mr Pennington draw up very detailed plans a couple of years ago for a new central station on an elevated section crossing Leeds Road??

That would make far more sense than Hamm Strasse which is too far out of town.

 

[Moonshot]

I would be more than willing to pay more in tax, but 2%!? If we all paid that, it would raise billions and would pay off the national debt!

Do you think that the rest of the voting public would accept tax rises like you would?

 

[tbtc]

Several express services terminate at Leeds and could continue to Bradford in the same way as Birmingham services continue to Wolverhamption and cardiff services continue to Swansea

There's six trains an hour from Leeds to Bradford at the moment, I'm not sure how many more are needed.

Virtually all TPE and XC services at Leeds are through trains from the Selby/York direction to the Huddersfield/ Wakefield direction.

Plenty of services from the east terminate at Cardiff (e.g. from Birmingham or from Bristol).

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Instead of slow trains to Selby, I think Bradford people would prefer fast through trains to places like Sheffield and Birmingham which didn't go anywhere near Leeds.

There can't be a city of similar size anywhere in Europe which is treated with such contempt by its national rail network.