Road, Rail & Access Issues

[Bigman]

Yes, I have just done the survey.

 

[752]

Does anybody have a link for the support?

 

[Len Fish]

I'd also welcome spending and a budget for a tram system throughout Leeds. But sadly Leeds and it's council have never really been forward thinking when it comes to things such as transport.

Not entirely fair, as Leeds has been seeking a tram system for many years, only for successive Governments to knock plans and funding on the head. Even Boris Johnson recognises that Leeds is the largest city in Europe without a tram or metro system and has pledged to remedy that, although that was just before Coronavirus hit. The new Parkway proposals are a welcome development and are probably the best that could be expected, tram or no tram, the construction costs for which are around £50 million per mile plus associated stations and the trams themselves. Transport systems don’t come cheap.

 

[Len Fish]

Another image for your delight.

 

[lbaspotter]

Does anybody have a link for the support?

Here you go, Link to LBA Parkway Rail Station consultation short survey can be found here:

Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station

Update July 2025 The scheme is at present going through an assessment of deliverability and affordability, in response to rising costs for project delivery. We will have a clearer understanding of the timeline for our next steps upon completion of this activity.

www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

 

[lbaspotter]

Following information on the proposed LBA Parkway Rail Station has been provide today

Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station​

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Help us shape our plans for Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway​

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is developing plans to build a new rail station on the existing Harrogate line, between Horsforth Station and the southern end of the Bramhope tunnel. We are currently inviting public feedback on the latest proposals.

The station will provide an interchange to serve Leeds Bradford Airport and the proposed employment hub[1] as well as having a park and ride function to predominantly serve the generally rural catchment between North Leeds and Harrogate.

During Spring 2019, a period of public engagement* took place on the proposals and the majority of respondents stated that they were happy or very happy with the station plans, click here for more information on the first phase of public engagement.

*this was part of the wider ‘Connecting Leeds Bradford Airport’ engagement exercise held jointly with Leeds City Council.
The feedback received has been used to help develop the proposals further and we are now running a second phase of public engagement which will allow you to comment on these updated plans. Some of the ways your feedback has helped progress the scheme to date are highlighted in our 'You Said, We Listened' document which can be found by clicking here.

Project objectives and benefits​

The Airport Parkway proposals have the following objectives and benefits:

• Take cars off the road by reducing vehicle distance driven, that will, in turn, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions
• Improve access to the airport by public transport
• Provide a park and ride opportunity for residents of north west Leeds and beyond, by building a 350 space car park for rail users
• Connect residential areas around the Parkway to local urban centres such as Leeds, Harrogate and York via rail
• Improve connectivity to the airport and surrounding existing and proposed office developments, including the proposed employment hub, for employees and customers
• Help employers based near the airport have access to a wider labour network.

What is proposed?​

The current design proposal for the station includes (as shown in the Station Boards, which you can access in the documents section).

• A staffed station building with waiting area, convenience retail offerings, ticket purchasing facilities, toilets, staff accommodation and a bus interchange for transferring to the airport
• Two 125m platforms positioned in the existing cutting, thus reducing the visual impact on the surrounding area
• Platform access via covered stairways and lifts
• A bridge linking the two platforms, which would also lead to a second pedestrian and cycle access route to the residential area of Cookridge
• Construction of an access road to Scotland Lane
• A 350-space park and ride car park to include blue badge holder spaces, electric vehicle charge points, dedicated drop off and pick-up points, secure cycle parking facilities, and a designated layby for the airport shuttle bus
• Low energy lighting and CCTV

Climate Emergency​

Since the previous engagement, the Combined Authority and Leeds City Council have declared a climate emergency.
Tackling the climate emergency is one of the Combined Authority’s four strategic priorities and with our partners, the Combined Authority has set a target to create a net zero carbon Leeds City Region by 2038.

While the Combined Authority recognises concerns about the impact of air travel and airport growth on carbon emissions, the current access provision to Leeds Bradford Airport is sub-standard and therefore needs to be addressed.

The Parkway Station seeks to meet the current demand for sustainable travel to and from Leeds Bradford Airport and the proposed employment hub. The Parkway Station will help ease current congestion and associated air quality issues by improving access by public transport, by encouraging fewer people to drive to the airport. Another major aim of the Parkway Station is to increase sustainable travel to Leeds and beyond with the provision of the park and ride facilities which encourage transfer to rail and reduce car vehicle kilometres driven. This will again contribute to reducing congestion and associated air quality issues.

The proposal will be informed by the Combined Authority’s Carbon Impact Audit, as will all of the Combined Authority’s transport infrastructure and economic regeneration projects.

Access to Parkway Station
The Combined Authority is also working with Leeds City Council to develop a wider connectivity scheme for the area to improve access to Leeds Bradford Airport, the North West Leeds Employment Hub (NWLEH) and the Parkway Station.
Leeds City Council is currently considering options for the provision of public transport and active travel (walking/cycling) access, and this includes changes to the highway infrastructure (roads) that may be required. There will be a further phase of consultation regarding these proposals anticipated to take place in Summer 2021.

Funding and approvals​

The station development is currently being funded by the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP) up to the completion of the Full Business Case (FBC).
The overall cost of the project is estimated at approximately £42m.
The delivery of the station beyond FBC is subject to the relevant approvals, as defined in the Leeds City Region Assurance Framework. It is anticipated that the Station will be funded by the West Yorkshire + Transport Fund.

Have your say​

We want to know what you think of our updated plans. To have your say, please complete our short survey by clicking here(External link). Before taking part, we recommend that you read the information provided here and below. The survey will close at midnight on 21st February 2021.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 precautions, we will not be holding any face to face events as part of this engagement. However, if you would like to talk to a member of the project team about the proposals before you submit your feedback you can contact us via the methods below. You should also contact us if you require any of this information in an alternative format e.g. braille.

Via email: [email protected]
Via our Q&A tool: Ask us a question using the tool at the bottom of this page
Via phone: 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine)
Via post: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA)*

*Please note that, due to the COVID-19 situation, the majority of our staff are working from home and therefore there will be significant delays in receiving any postal contributions. It is strongly recommended that you contact us via another method if possible.

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(External link)Next steps​

In February 2020, the scheme received approval from the Combined Authority for its Outline Business Case (OBC) and in March 2020 received Network Rail’s Guide to Rail Investment Process (GRIP) stage 3 approval.

Over the coming months, the programme of work will continue to be developed further and we intend to submit a planning application in Spring 2021, ahead of submitting our Full Business Case for approval in mid 2021. We will also be working closely with Network Rail and train operators to develop a suitable timetable for services calling at the proposed station. Based on the information available at present, and assuming all the necessary approvals are achieved, the station would be opened as early as Summer 2024 as part of a scheduled change to train timetables.

[1] The North West Leeds Employment Hub (SAP ref no. EG2-24) is a 32.63 ha employment site that was adopted within the Site Allocation Plan in July 2019 for the following uses: B1b Research & Development, B1c Light Industrial, B2 General Industrial and B8 Storage & Distribution.

Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station | Your Voice

www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

 

[lbaspotter]

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Even with the new proposed location - it is still a bus ride away from either the new terminal or 1930's terminal.

 

[Bigman]

Just like Luton and Birmingham then. Manny Airport station is not exactly close to any terminal, but that's a story for another day.

 

[LBA4EVER]

I love it, its a great design mixing in with the other rural buildings in that area, the platforms are 125metre in length, just been talking to a train spotter on this and apparently a class 153 carriage is 23metres in length (his fav train) so each platform would be able to take upto a 5 carriage train as they must be no overhang, on that line its mainly 3 carriages with 4 used in peak times. good to see a walk way and of course a good old cycle lane to the cookridge area. If this new railway station is to be a park and ride for commuters traveling to leeds or harrogate then it makes sense to have it in this location just slightly away from the airport as they would be no room for the big car park, remember that an airport requires parking spaces around it for flying passengers and staff, so the location of this station is idea, you could even walk from the station to the new planned terminal as its not far at all, ive submitted my full support on the connecting leeds website!

 

[Bigman]

Most recent stock is 23m long. The LNER Azuma's are 26m. A 5 car Azuma would therefore just be able to fit on OK. 6 car class 195’s have SDO (Selective Door Operation) so should be able to use the platforms with the odd door locked out. What would be even better would be if they could electrify from Armley Jcn up to the new station and add a trailing crossover so short working trains could turn back there. This opens up the possibility of electric units working direct form there to the likes of Skipton, Bradford Forster Square and Doncaster, with a quick stop in Leeds. The less people have the hassle of having to change trains, the more attractive the proposition.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Most recent stock is 23m long. The LNER Azuma's are 26m. A 5 car Azuma would therefore just be able to fit on OK. 6 car class 195’s have SDO (Selective Door Operation) so should be able to use the platforms with the odd door locked out. What would be even better would be if they could electrify from Armley Jcn up to the new station and add a trailing crossover so short working trains could turn back there. This opens up the possibility of electric units working direct form there to the likes of Skipton, Bradford Forster Square and Doncaster, with a quick stop in Leeds. The less people have the hassle of having to change trains, the more attractive the proposition.

i will take your word bigman on them specs as i know nowt about trains! haha

 

[Finger66]

Lost me too but sounds good. Survey now done

 

[White Heather]

Even with the new proposed location - it is still a bus ride away from either the new terminal or 1930's terminal.

Yes, we know, but the distance is only just over half a mile - 0.7 to be precise, to the new terminal, and the airport will provide free, electric shuttle buses to meet inbound trains and ferry passengers direct to the terminal door, which is better than nothing - because that is all we will get if this doesn't happen. Taking into account this also provides North West Leeds with its only Park and Ride, which is badly needed, and it also provides another rail station for the Moseley Wood part of Cookridge (taking pressure off Horsforth, again much needed), then this is a scheme that needs to go ahead. If it doesn't, after so much planning, and with the money available, then we may as well just give up.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I have looked at the plans and like you say it feels in design a lot like a relief station to Horsforth with the added bonus it will serve the airport (old or new terminal). Like you say a good chunk of Cookridge is now within walking distance of the station, Rawdon residents are likely to use this station more then Horsforth (especially with 300 spaces) and you could even argue act as Bramhope's nearest rail station now.

I agree @White Heather if this doesn't get the go ahead, Leeds poor infrastructure will continue to decline.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I think the key to this is that trains run cross-country stopping at LBA like MAN where they originate in, say, Hull, Scarborough or Middlesborough and end in Liverpool, picking up and dropping off at points in-between. Purely local trains are not the answer.

 

[lbaspotter]

I think the key to this is that trains run cross-country stopping at LBA like MAN where they originate in, say, Hull, Scarborough or Middlesborough and end in Liverpool, picking up and dropping off at points in-between. Purely local trains are not the answer.

Plan is to have to the 6x daily Harrogate - London direct LNER services calling at the airport which will allow for cross city service to Wakefield - Doncaster and beyond, along with the Northern operated Leeds - Harrogate - York trains.

 

[Bigman]

The key is to get the thing built and up and running. You can then put on whatever schedules you like. There is nothing to stop Northern from extending the current Leeds-Harrogate-York to Scarborough or through to Hull via Selby (albeit this one would be a bit convoluted). Similarly, trains going into Leeds do not necessary have to terminate/reverse there. I can actually see an hourly through service to the new station at Thorpe Park, which is going to act as a parkway station in it's own right. Like lbaspotter says, there are the planned LNER services which put Wakefield and Doncaster well within the radar. Lots of possibilities once it gets built. Manchester Airport did not have all it's current services from the day it first opened. It took years to get to the current service pattern.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Yes, we know, but the distance is only just over half a mile - 0.7 to be precise, to the new terminal, and the airport will provide free, electric shuttle buses to meet inbound trains and ferry passengers direct to the terminal door, which is better than nothing - because that is all we will get if this doesn't happen. Taking into account this also provides North West Leeds with its only Park and Ride, which is badly needed, and it also provides another rail station for the Moseley Wood part of Cookridge (taking pressure off Horsforth, again much needed), then this is a scheme that needs to go ahead. If it doesn't, after so much planning, and with the money available, then we may as well just give up.

The new rail station is far better in the planned location away from the airport for a number of reasons, like previously stated if its also going to be a park and ride station then it will require a very large car park which means it has to be located slightly away from the airport as around the airfield space for car parks for flying passengers and staff need to be there, also the plans for the new terminal actually extends out more towards scotland lane. also to note LBA is aiming in the future to take 7million passengers a year which is pretty much double what it takes now so in the future more land around the airport may well be required so the location of this new railway station is ideal.
noticed on good old moaning facebook the station is getting negative views but as per usual most dont look at the in depth details of it first!

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Sometimes @fight2win you cannot argue with stupid - especially on social media.