Leeds Bradford: Airport Road, Rail & Access Issues

[Seasider]

I have looked round Kirkstall Abbey a couple of times when I lived in West Yorkshire.

 

[Aviador]

I was looking back through the threads and I couldn't find anything about the new Arrow booking office. Better late than never I guess.

Arrow builds new Leeds Bradford Airport office

We are proud to announce the opening of our new airport office to replace the aging porta cabin at the airport. The new office is more appealing, customer friendly and inviting. We have installed Sky News, cold drink dispensers, seating and air conditioning.

“The old office was looking tired and was no longer fit for purpose so it was time to invest in a new, purpose built office. As well as being more customer friendly, its closer to the terminal doors and our drivers are immediately outside the office”.

David Richmond, Arrow chairman.

https://www.arrowprivatehire.co.uk/2016/05/04/arrow-builds-new-leeds-bradford-airport-office/
​

A huge improvement on the previous set-up which to be honest must have been an embarrassment for the airport.

 

[transitman]

well they can have the swanky new booking office with the cost of the fares they charge, £8.50 from airport to near the Old Ball in Horsforth, ridiculous ????

 

[armadillomaster]

well they can have the swanky new booking office with the cost of the fares they charge, £8.50 from airport to near the Old Ball in Horsforth, ridiculous ????

It's because the owner is as dodgy as his father!

 

[Aviador]

Greg Mulholland: North left stuck in sidings as our money speeds South

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news...n-sidings-as-our-money-speeds-south-1-8061628

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Or more accurately ..........as our money speeds South East.

Many areas of the south of England,especially the South West from Somerset and Dorset westwards, don't share in the gravy train bonanza that London and its region enjoy. There are no plans to electrify the railway south west of Bristol let alone have something like CrossRail or HS 2 or 3. If there is an economic divide it's not North v South, it's South East v the rest of the country.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Not sure anyone can comment on the new governments plans. For one who has battled with Mr Mulholland who is my local MP, this is really the pot calling the kettle black.
This guy is more useless then a chocolate fire guard, he has done nothing for business this area and his party have held back investment in the region when in government.
There failure to support a viable energy programme was a complete failure and their support for the Labour Climate change bill in 2008 has held back industry in this region, how he can critise this goverment is a joke.
Without the lights on we wont have any industry, turning major users power off when usage high, labour/Lib policy is not grown up writing.
The RMT union doing more damage to the railways then any government policy.

 

[lbaspotter]

The 967 Menston - Otley - Pool - Airport bus service operated by Bradford based TLC Travel will be changing in the October 2016 Service changes along with all the Otley/Iikley local services operated by Connexions buses.

Both companies have lost out in the latest Metro retendering bidding process with Transdev picking up the tenders.
Transdev have already ordered a batch of brand new buses for the work.

 

[armadillomaster]

Not sure anyone can comment on the new governments plans. For one who has battled with Mr Mulholland who is my local MP, this is really the pot calling the kettle black.
This guy is more useless then a chocolate fire guard, he has done nothing for business this area and his party have held back investment in the region when in government.
There failure to support a viable energy programme was a complete failure and their support for the Labour Climate change bill in 2008 has held back industry in this region, how he can critise this goverment is a joke.
Without the lights on we wont have any industry, turning major users power off when usage high, labour/Lib policy is not grown up writing.
The RMT union doing more damage to the railways then any government policy.

Can't remember a Liberal government...

 

[Bigman]

Does that mean that we might actually see a bit of common sense route planning with a service such as LBA-Pool-Otley-Menston-Ilkley-Keighley?

 

[lbaspotter]

Does that mean that we might actually see a bit of common sense route planning with a service such as LBA-Pool-Otley-Menston-Ilkley-Keighley?

Guess it will depend on which garage operates the services. As things stand could be either Transdev Keighley or Harrogate.

 

[Bigman]

Well, I popped down to Yeadon Town Hall last night for the latest Metro transport drop in job. Only about 12 people there but some useful comments. I made it clear that they should be looking at some relatively quick fixes, such as putting a regular shuttle bus on from Apperley Bridge station to the airport. I also said that it was stupid to only have 2 buses an hour to the airport from a city the size of Bradford. I compared this to places like Newcastle and Liverpool. Someone else in the crowd backed me up on this.

I also put the case for a new park-and-ride station at Calverley and Rodley. ie slap bang next to the ring road. I pointed out that there is considerable scope for passing loops and perhaps reopening the redundant Thackley tunnels to provide much needed additional capacity on the Airedale and Wharedale lines.

I also made it clear that they should be looking at a circular tram-train route running from Leeds via Horsforth, the airport, Guiseley, Bradford and back to Leeds via New Pudsey. I pointed out that the large bulk of this route is already in place, ie Holbeck to Horsforth, High Royds to Bradford Forster Square and also Bradford Interchange to Holbeck which would be a big bonus when costing for such an exercise. I also pointed out other advantages of such a scheme, such as assisting with match day fan movements at Headingley Carnegie and Valley Parade.

Anyway, I feel I did my bit for the cause!!

 

[quik123]

I also said that it was stupid to only have 2 buses an hour to the airport from a city the size of Bradford.

I tried to use the bus from Bradford this morning in the snow. Their timetable (online) said my bus would be 0725.
At the stop it said 0721! At 0719 it went sailing past without stopping. The next one isn't until 0840, by 0910 I'd given up as that one hadn't shown up.
I know there was some disruption due to the weather but if this is the best we can do for public transport to an international airport we may as well give up!

 

[rmac]

I see that Aberdeen City Council are considering a £70m rail link into the airport from the main line at Dyce.
Aberdeen has a population of under 250,000 and an airport handling about 3.5 million per year. Will Leeds City Council make a decision on a Parkway station only near the airport? If so how much? Leeds has a population 3 times that of Aberdeen, Bradford has a population twice that of Aberdeen and an airport handling about 3.5m yearly so similar to LBA.

 

[cmj]

Aberdeen airport is much larger in terms of importance - lots of offshore related work.

 

[Aviador]

Aberdeen airport is much larger in terms of importance - lots of offshore related work.

Really? Surely an airports importance can only be gauged by the number of passengers using it? Not buy the businesses in its proximity.

 

[White Heather]

I see that Aberdeen City Council are considering a £70m rail link into the airport from the main line at Dyce.
Aberdeen has a population of under 250,000 and an airport handling about 3.5 million per year. Will Leeds City Council make a decision on a Parkway station only near the airport? If so how much? Leeds has a population 3 times that of Aberdeen, Bradford has a population twice that of Aberdeen and an airport handling about 3.5m yearly so similar to LBA.

It isn't a decision just for Leeds City Council - and a heavy rail link is not viable due to the difference in height from Horsforth up to the airport. The gradient is too great for a heavy rail train so it will have to be a tram train - and the intention is to work towards that. Any parkway station will be a stop gap to provide the airport with a heavy rail link as soon as possible and it is likely to be built as part of the road link work which will pass nearby. Assuming that is that the only sensible road link option is chosen (option 1). Presumably building a rail link to Dyce is easier than it is to LBA - perhaps too they are doing what they can to arrest the decline at Dyce where passenger numbers have been steadily falling as the oil industry declines.

 

[Cruzeiro do Sul]

Really

Airports do differ in importance due to their function, regardless of size. For example the passengers travelling through London City have a much larger effect on the economy than those passing through Luton.
The purpose of travel is recognised by government when allocating funds for regional connectivity. The aim is to promote U.K. economic activity rather than to subsidise foreign holidays.​

 

[rmac]

In the news to-day that Glasgow is proposing a tram/train link into the airport. This would be from Glasgow Central to Paisley Gilmour on existing lines then on a new 2 mile spur into the airport.
Maybe Leeds and West Yorkshire could monitor this proposal as it is very similar to that for a tram/train link into LBA.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I am surprised about the Aberdeen link, a recent BBC programme highlighted the job losses in Aberdeen related to the demise of the North sea oil and gas extraction industry.
Output and firms are down by 75% on historic highs. I know BBC finds it difficult to present balanced coverage of any topic, but the situation did look grim and not one that an investment of this nature looks attractive in financial.