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MPs back plan for new high-speed rail service

Written by yorkguides.co.uk   

Link aims at 1.5 million travellers

Robert Sutcliffe
(Yorkshire Post)
PROPOSED high-speed rail services from Bradford to London have won the backing of the regional development association for Yorkshire and the Humber, and 50 MPs.

The plans are being proposed by York rail company Grand Central which also wants to run services between Sunderland and London. It has said the new services, which are operated on a commercial basis without any Government subsidy, would benefit around 1.5 million travellers.
The plans have also won the support of the Association of North East Councils. In its new manifesto, the association said: "We pledge our support for Grand Central Railway Company's plans to operate a new service from Sunderland to King's Cross.
"We believe this would bring significant economic and social benefits for the whole region." Bradford is currently undergoing something of an economic renaissance with a £300,000 advertising campaign lasting for three months ready to tell the world that its rebirth has begun. Its city centre regeneration has been valued at £1.5bn.
But Bradford has only one inter-city train a day while Halifax lost its direct link to the capital in 1978.
Bradford Council leader Margaret Eaton said: "When you look at all the developments coming to Bradford including the Broadway development and all the investment, it certainly warrants a more direct route to London and I would be actively encouraging that to happen.''
But GNER which runs the East Coast Main Line with a spur to Leeds is concerned at the impact such plans could have on its services and has objected to the proposals by Grand Central to run up to four trains a day from Calderdale to the capital.
It fears losing travellers who will take that route instead of journeying to Leeds or Wakefield Westgate to connect with existing services. Grand Central has applied for a Track Access Agreement from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to operate its proposed new services.
Managing director of Grand Central Ian Yeowart said the new services would "provide much wanted direct rail links to London from a host of major centres. By improving rail links, Grand Central will also act as a catalyst to regeneration in places such as Halifax, Hartlepool and Pontefract."
 
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