The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AB”) provides the Committee with an update on patronage, timetable changes, Northern Powerhouse Rail and other initiatives including renewal works to the city centre stations that will improve the provision of rail services within the district.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Committee notes the content of this report.

(2)       That the Committee fully endorses the need for a Bradford City Centre station to be included as part of the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail network, for the wider benefit of the North as well as the Bradford district.

(3)       That a further report in relation to rail strategy is provided in December 2019.

(Julian Jackson – 01274 433766)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “AB”) provided the Committee with an update on patronage, timetable changes, Northern Powerhouse Rail and other initiatives including renewal works to the city centre stations that would improve the provision of rail services within the district.

The Assistant Director, Transportation and Planning was present at the meeting and introduced the report to the Committee. He highlighted that the provision of a good quality rail service was a key component in improving connectivity and supporting increased economic activity across the district. The Council continued to lobby for better rail services across the district with an emphasis on securing a Bradford city centre stop on the proposed Northern Powerhouse rail network and delivering improvements to local stations.

Following an introduction, a question and answer session ensued:

·         We always talk about public transport supposed to be efficient but in reality the fares are very pricey and therefore this was a massive concern as there was a long way to go to win over the public?

o   There were plans for improvement on infrastructure resilience needed for reliability.

o   Calder Valley line worst performing line in West Yorkshire and the industry accepted the current performance as unacceptable.

o   There would be reviews to understand the problems areas of the line however it was all about local accountability but in addition, the Autumn season was often worst for services;

·         With the welcoming of the successful new station at Apperley Bridge (which opened in December 2015) continued to be popular with passenger numbers exceeding all expectations. Explanation was sought on the slow operation levels in the Low Moor station?

o   At present, the Low Moor station struggled through an approved process and this was due to the lack of demand of train services;

o   Construction of the new station at Low Moor was completed in 2017. Patronage at the station continued to grow albeit at a slower rate than experienced at Apperley Bridge. The 120-space car park was currently operating within capacity with passengers able to park on site irrespective of the time of the train service. The slow increase in patronage at this station was in part due to the limited hourly train service to Bradford Interchange, Leeds, Halifax and Huddersfield by Northern. Grand Central services to Wakefield, Doncaster and London were introduced in April 2017; the service currently operated four times per day.

o   Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Transport Planning stated that it was paramount for the Low Moor Station to continue as it was a imperative service provider and possessed the ability to attract further public transportation users in future years;

·         In relation to the Foster Square Station, what were plans in terms of detailed infrastructure?

o   Through the transforming cities bid the FS Station was being looked at in a wider context by connecting and facilitating other important services such as bike charging points for the purposes of a more efficient all round service transport provisions. This would connect and integrate one scheme with others;

·         What were future plans for the Bradford Interchange and Northern Power Rail?

o   A master plan had been developed to look at infrastructure and the delivery of a new car park for the station;

o   Work had been undertaken to ensure that the City Centre option was part of the strategy for Bradford’s business case. If the master plan is approved then the business case would be presented to government for its recommendations;

·         Bradford has always endured the lack of connectivity and this of course was the legacy of Bradford’s rail network?

o   There were issues with the rail services on a operational level and it was about how we would make the rail franchise more accommodating and comfortable was the primary focus;

·         How was the improvement in the flow of freight progressing within the plans?

o   The networks were constrained at present as it was about having the physical capacity for freight movements;

·         Low Moor was a good station but the element of access for buses had been missed? What was in mind in terms of future in efficient stations entailing joint rail and bus services in order to reduce the dependency of car usage?

o   Co-ordinated work was ongoing between rail and the bus services was paramount. Connectivity with Apperley Bridge and Leeds/Bradford Airport was being looked at by the Council and the Combined Authority;

·         Had any discussions taken place in relation to the Steeton Station car park?

o   This was planned in the Phase 1 parking program which was on track and to be delivered by 2021;

·         Due to the lack of CCTV, was this matter being focused on?

o   Train lines occasionally used CCTV recording but this could be addressed with the Combined Authority;

·         The report addressed the Bradford Foster station and not mentioned timescales of Bradford Interchange?

o   Two streams of work were ongoing and the first steam would be delivered by 2021. In regards to the second stream, there had been a few issues in relation to the fabric of the building with repairs but this would be resolved soon.

During the discussion, the Committee, Portfolio Holder and officers made the following comments:

·         Frizinghall Station had seen an increase in service users as it covered a wider area;

·         It was unfortunate to have people still continue the use of cars when significant investments were being made towards service infrastructure throughout the West Yorkshire but on the flip side, there were regular reports of overcrowding on some train services, primarily on services to and from Leeds, particularly on the Airedale Line (Shipley, Saltaire). It was paramount that a balanced approach was applied within the master plan to ensure ample space for car parking at stations;

·         The reasons people had become reliant on cars was due to lack of parking spaces and a low level of running train services;

·         Due to current mortgage on the NCP car park,  an opportunity of generating income and profit was being assessed for car park but in the first instance it was about accelerating the whole surrounding area to deliver projects to boost regeneration in the City Centre;

·         The Airedale line was one of the busiest in West Yorkshire and Northern Rail were planning to run longer trains. This was a positive franchise commitment;

·         Nottingham had committed to encourage people to use buses and not cars to get to rail stations and Bradford was not heading in a similar direction; and,

·         Without greater connectivity then the result will remain with further car usages.

Resolved –

(1)       That the contents of Document “AB” be noted.

(2)       That the committee fully supports the need for a Bradford City   Centre station to be included as part of the Northern Powerhouse    Rail network for the wider benefit of the North as well as the             Bradford district.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place