Regional transport expert projects five-year timeline for new Bradford bus station

A regional transport expert has indicated that the planning and construction of a new bus station for Bradford city centre is expected to span approximately five years. The Bradford Interchange is scheduled to resume operations on January 5, following its closure last year due to structural damage; however, the facility will be functioning past its intended 50-year operational life. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, as the owner and operator, received a recent report advising the prompt development of plans for the eventual replacement of the aging facility. It is anticipated that the forthcoming station will integrate both bus services and a stop for the proposed tram system connecting Bradford to Leeds. Dave Haskins, director of transport operations at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, responded to an inquiry from the Local Democracy Reporting Service regarding the construction timeline for a new station, stating: “The time it has taken to build other bus stations has been around five years.” Mr. Haskins noted that while the reopening of the Interchange would incur a cost of approximately £500,000, expenses were prone to increase the longer the facility remained operational. He remarked: “It is like an old car – you could realistically keep extending its life, but how much do you spend?” Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, expressed that a “real opportunity” exists to establish a new station once trams are reintroduced to the city. She commented: “With the Interchange coming to the end of its life, we can look at how we can make Bradford a better connected city for the next 50 to 100 years.” She added: “The new infrastructure we are putting in place will be there for decades.” She also mentioned that it could connect with the proposed new rail station in the city centre. West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin stated: “Having seen Halifax’s new bus station, we know what a beautiful station looks like. “We need to focus on the future – Bradford deserves a beautiful bus station.” She further indicated that the mass transit system for West Yorkshire was referenced in the previous week’s Budget, signifying the new government’s commitment to the initiative.