Kirkstall Forge railway station

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Kirkstall Forge National Rail
265px
Construction in December 2015
Location
Place Kirkstall
Local authority City of Leeds
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Grid reference SE249364
Operations
Station code KLF
Managed by Northern
Number of platforms 2 (proposed)
DfT category F2
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections
from National Rail Enquiries
Passenger Transport Executive
PTE West Yorkshire (Metro)
Zone 2
History
Key dates Opening 2016[1] (2016[1])
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Kirkstall Forge railway station was a railway station located on the Leeds to Bradford Line between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. A new station by the same name is being built on a different site to the original station, and is due to open during 2016.[1]

History

The original station opened on 1 July 1860 and closed on 31 July 1905. It was not considered worthwhile rebuilding it when the line was diverted onto a new bridge over the canal. Additionally, Kirkstall station would provide opportunities for travel in lieu of Kirstall Forge closing.[2]

A new station, in a different site situation than the site of the original station, is expected to open during 2016.[1] Metro, the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, intends to open the station, having already overseen the opening of Apperley Bridge in December 2015.

Go-ahead for construction of both Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge was given in the National Infrastructure Plan released on 29 November 2011.[3][4]

Facilities

The station will have two platforms, with a footbridge and lifts linking them. The development also includes 127 car parking spaces, a bus stop and secure cycle storage.[5]

Proposed services

Though it is sited on both the Airedale and Wharfedale lines, the station was to have been served by trains between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square. This would provide two trains per hour in each direction.[5]

However the May 2016 timetable (due to come into effect on 15 May 2016) published by Network Rail and Metro shows the station as being served by one train per hour between Leeds & Ilkley, with a limited number of additional calls (peak hour & late night) provided by Airedale Line services to/from Skipton & Bradford.[6] On Sundays the Leeds to Bradford Forster Square trains call once per hour each way.

Preceding station Future services Following station
Apperley Bridge   Northern
Airedale Line
Opening 2016
  Leeds
Historical railways
Calverley & Rodley   Midland Railway
Leeds and Bradford Railway
  Kirkstall

Plans

File:Site of the former Kirkstall Forge, Kirkstall, Leeds (30th December 2014) 005.jpg
The derelict site of Kirkstall Forge seen in December 2014.

In 1999, Metro announced that Kirkstall Forge & Apperley Bridge were amongst five new or reopened stations which they wished to see achieved over the ensuing five years. One of these stations has opened - Glasshoughton in 2005.

In July 2007, Leeds City Council approved a planning application to redevelop the Kirkstall Forge site, and the developer, Commercial Estates Group, has committed £4 million to the building of a railway station, and to the provision of new rolling stock.

In September 2008, the West Yorkshire PTE announced that the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Transport Board had approved funding for its "rail growth programme" which includes stations at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge. A public exhibition of the plans took place in June 2009;[7] the planning application was submitted to Leeds City Council in March 2010[5] and approved in June 2010.[8]

Despite its significant private sector funding, the larger Rail Growth Programme including Apperley Bridge was listed as one of the schemes under government review in June 2010.[9]

Following the Comprehensive Spending Review in Autumn 2010 the Leeds Rail Growth Package has been included with the "Development" pool of schemes. Metro submitted a "Best & Final Funding Bid" in September 2011 and the schemes funding was confirmed November 2011 as part of the National Infrastructure Plan.[3][4]

On 29 May 2014 the Department for Transport committed £9.5 million of a total of £16 million towards the Leeds Rail Growth scheme which includes both Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge stations. The main works began in November 2014, with the principal contractor I&H Brown starting works on the site. Completion of both stations was expected by winter 2015.[10] However, the work at Kirkstall is running behind schedule (partly due to recent flooding) and opening is not now expected until May 2016.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 National Infrastructure Plan 2011 HM Treasury
  4. 4.0 4.1 [1]
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. GB eNRT May 2016 Edition, Tables 36, 37 & 38
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Kirkstall Forge site greenlit as government agrees to fund two new rail stations Yorkshire Evening Post 28 June 2014