Designers to look at Elland rail station plan

Rail designers will begin work on designing and finding a location for a proposed station in Elland.

The proposals will be dscussed by councillors and officers on the transport committee of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which has previously prioritised four locations across the region for new rail stations.

In the report to go before the committee it said: “Staff resources, who were working on Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge stations, are now available to manage the assessment of the technical, operational and economic aspects of the proposed station at Elland.

“Feasibility work will take six months from inception to taking to the point of seeking approval to proceed to the next stage, which is detailed feasibility work.

“This work will identify and understand the key issues to be faced in delivering a new rail station at this location.”

In January 2015, plans for a railway station in the town moved a step closer as the authority announced Elland ranked at the top of the list of more than 60 proposed stations across the region.

Stephen Waring, chair of HADRAG, said Elland should have had been considered for a station at same time as Brighouse in 2000 and that it is the biggest town in Yorkshire without a station.

The group also reminded Arriva, who will be running train services along the line under the new franchise agreement, improvements to services should include plans for the new station.

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