Railway stations lined up for £32m investment

Car parks at stations across the region will be expanded under the scheme, with the improvement expected to help increase passenger numbers and create more jobs.

As part of the expansion plans, South Emsall is set to get an extra parking 50 spaces, doubling its current capacity.

Work on stations in Hebden Bridge, Normanton and Mytholmroyd is also due to start in the next 12 to 18 months.

And the refurbishment of the facilities at Mirfield Station will start within the next month.

A report prepared for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s (WYCA) district committee this week says: “Increased car parking capacity will enhance accessibility to the rail network and support sustainable employment growth in the main urban centres.

“The car parks will provide: additional standard and blue badge

parking bays, CCTV, lighting and drainage.”

Plans to upgrade the facilities at Morley, Moorthorpe and Outwood are at an “initial feasibility stage”.

Wider improvements are also underway at Castleford Station, where a new passenger waiting room will be built alongside retail space and a bike shelter.

The project which is due to be completed in 2020, will also see a new footpath link to the town centre and improvements to the underpass at the railway station.