A new station is to be built at Bradford Interchange, the government confirmed on 20 October 2026, according to the Department for Transport. The site will replace the current 1970s station with a modern transport hub, with construction expected in the 2030s.

Key points

  • Location — the new station will be built at Bradford Interchange in the city centre.
  • Services — passengers are promised more frequent trains, quicker journeys and better reliability to Leeds, Manchester and York.
  • Growth — Bradford Council says the scheme, alongside the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit network, could support thousands of homes and jobs and up to £1 billion in economic benefits.
  • Ownership — the station will form part of Great British Railways, the new publicly owned railway.

The decision was taken with Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, and forms part of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Under those plans, trains between major northern cities would run often enough that passengers would not need to consult a timetable before setting off.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the announcement was an important milestone for Bradford, bringing Northern Powerhouse Rail into the heart of the city and laying the foundations for homes, jobs and opportunities across the region. Brabin called it an exciting and important milestone, with an ironclad commitment to a new station in the city centre.

The government says the project is a key part of its Northern Growth Strategy, which aims to electrify and upgrade routes between Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the decision was a long-term commitment to the city and the wider North and would unlock regeneration of the Southern Gateway.

Editor's comment

What it means in practice

For now, nothing changes at the platform: the current station stays open while the plans move forward, and the new one is not expected until the 2030s. The practical effect is a long-term promise of quicker, more frequent trains towards Leeds, Manchester and York, plus a likely shake-up of the area around the interchange as regeneration work gathers pace.

  • Travelling — check the existing interchange for updates on services during the transition; day-to-day journeys are unaffected for the time being.
  • Living nearby — people in the Southern Gateway area can expect construction and planning activity in the coming years as the scheme develops.
  • Money — the promised economic benefits and new homes depend on the wider mass transit plans being delivered alongside the station.