Money
to
pay


for
the
first
stage
of
work
on
a
new
station
for
Bradford
has
been
announced,
following
the
publication
of
the
Network
North
proposals
last
month.

The
Network
North
schemes
cover
most
of
the
country,
and
include
projects
in
Devon
and
Cambridgeshire
as
well
as
the
north
of
England.
The
government
said
last
month
that
it
would
be
investing
£36
billion
in
the
‘long
term’
schemes,
which
would
include
road
improvements
as
well
as
railways
and
a
new
tram
system
for
Leeds,
all
funded
by
money
released
from
the
cancellation
of
HS2
to
Crewe
and
Manchester.

Department
for
Transport
permanent
secretary
Dame
Bernadette
Kelly
has
pointed
out
that
HS2
between
the
West
Midlands
and
Crewe
cannot
be
abandoned
without
a
further
Act
of
Parliament,
and
the
£400,000
allocated
to
Bradford
comes
from
the
previously
announced
West
Yorkshire
Devolution
deal.

The
Network
North
proposals
include
£2
billion
for
Bradford’s
new
station,
although
it
is
not
yet
known
where
it
will
be
built,
or
on
what
line.

For
now,
the
initial
grant
will
fund
the
preparation
of
a
master
plan
for
the
station
by
the
council.
The
DfT
said
the
work
will
examine
how
the
new
station
can
support
regeneration
and
make
the
most
of
its
potential
to
create
new
homes,
jobs
and
economic
growth.

Once
complete,
the
findings
will
form
part
of
a
wider
business
case
for
the
project
which
will
include
details
of
the
proposed
location
and
opening
date.

Rail
minister
Huw
Merriman
said:
‘I
have
championed
the
case
for
a
new
railway
station
in
Bradford
for
a
long
time
and
the
funding
announced
today
will
make
this
commitment
one
step
closer
to
becoming
a
reality.

‘Bradford
is
soon
to
become
the
UK’s
City
of
Culture
and
our
scheme
to
deliver
a
brand
new
station
and
railway
line
will
help
attract
tourism,
unlock
access
to
neighbouring
cities
and
provide
the
area
with
the
huge
regeneration
opportunities
it
deserves
to
boost
connectivity
and
economic
growth.’