The new Northern franchise is indeed transformational. But we aren’t the only ones saying even more is needed to meet potential travel needs. West Yorkshire Combined Authority oversees the Metro brand in the county. At a recent transport committee meeting, a report from officials highlighted gaps and areas for improvement, some of them close to HADRAG’s heart. “Adjustments” and smaller changes for discussion with Northern include:
- Moving to 2 trains/hr at Low Moor
- Sunday trains Leeds-Dewsbury-Brighouse-Manchester (one of two routes in the city region without a Sunday service);
- Earlier Sunday trains Hebden Bridge/Brighouse to Leeds.
- Possibility of starting the Bradford-Manchester Airport service before 2019 (it is actually to start 2017 on Sundays)…
And classed as “enhancements”:
- WYCA goal of 4 trains/hour between Bradford and Manchester…
- …with restoration of link between local stations like Walsden and Bradford. We could support that!
A separate report sets out a rail narrative for West Yorkshire. Elland tops the list of new stations listing benefits of connectivity, modal shift, network access and park & ride.
Halifax and District Rail Action Group 