New Yorkshire Rail Links To London Planned

LEEDS and other parts of Yorkshire could see an increase in the number of train links to London if proposals are approved.

“We’re talking about places which in the recent past have not had a good service to London. Local businesses and leaders have been supportive.”

New plans by York-based Alliance Rail Holdings could create more direct trains from Leeds, Bradford and Halifax to the capital. Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Hebden Bridge and Todomorden will also be better-linked via the new service if it goes ahead.

Alliance says the plans would generate more than 100 jobs in the region and pump around £150m into the region’s economy.

It hopes to be operating more than 60 trains every day across its network, which it believes could deliver £3.5bn of wider economic benefit to those areas served.

Ian Yeowart, managing director of Alliance Rail Holdings, said: “There is a solid business case for doing this. Places like Bradford now have a direct service.

"After Bradford the biggest location with no direct link was Huddersfield. The new direct service we propose will be as quick as having to go into Leeds to change.

“We’re talking about places which in the recent past have not had a good service to London. Local businesses and leaders have been supportive.”