Leeds commuters face timetable shake-up after Northern confirms service cut
Warnings commuters at Pudsey Station could face a gap in service
A Leeds councillor has warned commuters at Pudsey Station could face a gap in services in the morning after a service will be scrapped to tackle “poor reliability.”
Northern is planning major changes to its Hull to Halifax service, which stops at Leeds and Bradford.
The rail operator says the service is often heavily delayed, and these delays mean it is regularly terminated at Bradford or Leeds.
To tackle the issue, the Hull train will now stop at Leeds and no longer continue on to Bradford and Halifax.
Passengers wanting to travel to Hull from Bradford will now have to change in Leeds.
Peter Carlill, Labour Councillor for Calverley and Farsley, raised concerns about the impact on rail passengers using Pudsey station.
He said the withdrawal of the service will leave a “gap” at peak times in the morning commute.
He said: “I regretfully accept the loss of this service if it does bring wider benefits.”
But Northern claims other local routes will be improved as part of the shake up.
Hull was the UK City of Culture in 2017, with Bradford holding the honour in 2025.
The proposed changes were discussed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Weaver Network Board on Thursday.
A report to the board said: “Northern is currently consulting the Combined Authority on a proposed timetable change affecting services between Hull, Selby, Leeds, Bradford and Halifax, and between Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield.
“The Hull–Leeds–Bradford–Halifax service has experienced poor reliability for some time. Delays occurring on either side of Leeds often affect the wider route, meaning services are regularly terminated early at Leeds or Bradford and do not reach Halifax as planned.
“To improve performance, Northern has proposed that Hull services would terminate at Leeds and no longer continue to Bradford and Halifax.
“To maintain connectivity, the Bradford–Halifax–Huddersfield service would be extended to start and finish at Leeds.”