Waiting for Elland!

When we founded HADRAG in 1985 one aim was to get the Halifax-Huddersfield links reopened with stations at Brighouse (previously closed 1970) and Elland (closed 1962). The initial service in 2000 was hourly Leeds via Halifax to Huddersfield, with a peak-hour extra between Hebden Bridge, Brighouse and Leeds (via Dewsbury). In 2008 the “extra” became hourly from Manchester (now Wigan) was added, a big boost, though Mon-Sat only. So Brighouse has two services an hour on two different routes. The station had largest local percentage increase in footfall over more than 10 years after that service boost. Brighouse needs more trains, starting with Sunday trains on Leeds and Manchester direct route. Hadrag will keep pressing for 2 trains/hr on this route during the week, one of them fast. Aim should be 20 minutes Brighouse-Leeds.

We are of course still waiting for Elland to open, latest estimate being Spring 2027 which looks realistic. So 27 years late and counting. Not long ago we – and a TV reporter – bumped into locals walking dogs near the Elland site. One of them had moved there 30 years ago in anticipation of commuting from the new station. Now, they are approaching retirement! Elland was postponed when Brighouse got under way, the money needed elsewhere.

More recently we have seen setbacks and forced design upgrades, as well as land issues hopefully now resolved. It’s a big project with a difficult site, partly why it did not happen in 2000. There is no better location. The new station will be on an embankment requiring steps, lifts and ramps for access – rather spectacular! A local access package will accompany the station with new active travel routes including canal and river bridges. West Yorkshire Combined Authority is overseeing the station, Calderdale the access package.

Research back in the 1990s suggested Elland station could be at least as successful as Brighouse. Which strengthens the case for more trains on the line through Dewsbury to Leeds. If Brighouse-Leeds could be 20 minutes, Elland-Leeds could be less than 25.