"We need action" - Rail campaigners call for new train service from West Yorkshire to Sheffield

The Halifax and District Rail Action Group (HADRAG) have welcomed West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)’s draft local transport plan.

But, the groups says local travellers must not be forced to wait for future high-speed rail or mass transit schemes which might never reach the Calder Valley, and have also backed the pressure on Westminster by local leaders including West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin.

HADRAG wants a service of through trains from Bradford, Halifax, Elland and Brighouse, via Mirfield then via Barnsley – or maybe Wakefield – to Sheffield, and say Meadowhall could be served on the way, and a possible new station could be built at Horbury for Ossett.

They say this would be much more direct, and much faster than present indirect journeys from Bradford and Calderdale, changing trains at Leeds.

The service via Barnsley would need a mothballed link line at Crigglestone to be reinstated, campaigners say, and believe the service would fill a serious gap in the regional rail network.

Brighouse to Sheffield via Barnsley could take about 50 minutes, campaigners say, marking a massive improvement on current journey times.

HADRAG also says Brighouse, and the planned Elland station, need more, faster trains to Leeds.

Stephen Waring, Chair of HADRAG, said: “Bradford, and even more so, Calderdale rail users are sick and tired of having to go via Leeds and change trains if they want to get to Sheffield and the East Midlands.

"It can take the best part of two hours just to reach Sheffield. A direct route would almost halve some of these times.

“It could open up the market for Bradford to Wakefield journeys.

“Longer-term, both routes could be developed.

“We also expect WYCA to maintain commitment to more and faster trains from the new station due to open soon at Elland as well as Brighouse to Leeds via Dewsbury.

"That is definitely in WYCA’s 2024 rail strategy.

"Brighouse to Leeds could be just 20 minutes, though we think the TransPennine route upgrade may need to be finished first.”

HADRAG says local rail users must not be kept waiting decades for new high-speed lines that will not serve local stations.

"Mass transit will be welcome but is not designed for speed and could be many years away for Halifax and the lower Calder Valley,” Stephen added.

The campaigners want to see a commitment by WYCA to develop and improve local lines while commuters are waiting for longer term, big schemes.

“We believe an upgraded Calder Valley line could deliver extra trains taking 40 minutes Bradford to Manchester serving Halifax and Rochdale,” Stephen said.

“This would be at a fraction of the cost of a new high-speed line.

"HADRAG wants affordable upgrades, with benefits in our lifetimes.

“We have a shopping list of schemes to benefit not just Bradford and Halifax but also the lines through Elland, Brighouse and eastwards.

"We need action on this shopping list now.

“Finally, of course, we need full electrification of the Calder Valley line. Battery trains waste energy and will not do in the long term.

"It is pleasing to see commitment in the West Yorkshire’s plan. All branches of our line need to be wired over time to give an electric railway York and Leeds via both Bradford and Brighouse to Manchester, and also through Burnley and Blackburn to Preston linking with the Blackpool line. Planning this is an urgent need.”