Full steam ahead: new station for Bradford
New station for Bradford will improve connections, support economic growth and set the foundations for new homes, jobs and opportunities across the North.
- new station at Bradford Interchange to bring passengers more reliable services, better connections and faster journeys as Northern Powerhouse Rail moves one step closer
- Bradford Council says delivering the new station alongside the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit network will unlock thousands of jobs and homes, and more than £1 billion in economic benefits
- new station will transform the city’s connections with some of the North’s largest cities, including Leeds, Manchester and York
Passengers across Yorkshire are set to benefit from major station improvements, as the government has today (20 October 2026) confirmed a new station at Bradford Interchange.
Bradford’s connections with some of the North’s largest cities, including Leeds, Manchester and York, will be transformed as passengers will be able to benefit from more frequent trains, improved journey times and reliability.
The Bradford Interchange site unlocks the potential to regenerate Bradford’s Southern Gateway, and in tandem with the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit, would support thousands of new homes, jobs and up to £1 billion in economic benefits.
The announcement marks a major milestone in the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and the government’s mission to drive growth in every postcode.
The station will also become part of Great British Railways (GBR), the new publicly owned railway that will bring track and train together, helping deliver a more reliable, efficient and passenger-focused railway.
The Prime Minister is driving change to give control back to local communities by empowering Mayors to shape transport to serve the communities they know best, and that is why the location decision was made with the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.
NPR will deliver a turn-up-and-go railway for passengers from Bradford, meaning multiple trains an hour will run frequently enough between major cities across the North that passengers won’t need to check a timetable before going to the station.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
Today marks an important milestone for Bradford with a brand-new station that will transform how people travel across the North.
By bringing Northern Powerhouse Rail into the heart of the city, we are unlocking the huge potential Bradford offers – improving connections, supporting economic growth and setting the foundations for new homes, jobs and opportunities across the region.
The new GBR station will be delivered in the 2030s and replace the outdated 1970s station, providing the modern transport hub that Bradford deserves. The city will be at the heart of the NPR network, transforming its connections with some of the North’s largest cities including Leeds, Manchester and York, creating opportunities for investment, regeneration and economic growth.
Bradford’s new city centre station is a key part of the government’s Northern Growth Strategy, which, with Northern Powerhouse Rail, is electrifying and upgrading routes between Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, improving journey times and reliability across the region.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
Today is an exciting and important milestone for Bradford, with an ironclad commitment to a new station in the city centre.
Bradford has so much untapped potential, and faster, more frequent trains to Leeds and Manchester, and the transformation of the city centre through Bradford City Village, will help to finally unleash it.
Together with investment for northern powerhouse rail, a mass transit system for West Yorkshire and our brand-new Weaver Network, we are working in lockstep with the government to deliver a better-connected region.
Henri Murison MBE, Chief Executive of Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said:
The decision to build Bradford’s new station at the interchange in the city centre is a long-term commitment to the city and the wider North.
By unlocking the regeneration of the Southern Gateway, we will see homes and jobs for this city which otherwise would not be built or come here. Working with the council and Mayor Tracy Brabin and her team, I will be doing everything I can to push on and move forward with ambitious plans that enable future phases of Northern Powerhouse Rail. This network will better connect the young people in the city with opportunities in Manchester and Liverpool as well as Sheffield.
Bradford and the North’s next phase of growth will be built by business. Confidence is already building here, and this will help build it further.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, said:
This government is doing things differently. We are backing local leaders and investing in the infrastructure that people need. This is how we create good jobs where people live and growth that supports a high street you can be proud of. That is how we build a stronger future for cities like Bradford, boost West Yorkshire, and deliver our plan for growth in every part of the country.
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