Harrogate rail revamp: A new station for Leeds Bradford Airport?

Date:9th July 2014. Picture James Hardisty, (JH100438e) Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Juliette Bains, learning to fly at Multiflight Flight Training Centre, South Side Aviation Centre, Leeds Bradford International Airport, pictured taking off with flying instructor Richard Cummings.

A new station for Leeds Bradford International Airport could be created if the Northern Electrification Task Force decide to award funding for electrification of the Leeds-Harrogate-York line.

A new ‘Leeds Bradford Airway Parkway’ station could also be created by the route become electrified to deal with a frustrated demand from commuters.

The route passes within close proximity of Leeds Bradford Airport, which is not served effectively by rail and is 1.1 miles from the airport’s passenger terminal.

The existing station at Horsforth is the closest station to the airport and accessibility by public transport is also poor with slow and inconvenient bus journeys required.

Mr Dunsby said that the proposed station, one mile north of Horsforth, would be beneficial for commuters as it would offer a 15 minute frequency service to the Airport from both Leeds City Centre and Harrogate.

He said: “This arrangement would maximise the benefit of the newly electrified line with modern electric rolling stock in place of the diesel Pacers that are coming to the end of their life.

“The alternative suggestion for a direct spur off the Harrogate line into the Airport, possibly using new tram-trains, would require massive capital investment and substantial engineering works for a new track with new rolling stock that would then only serve Leeds air passengers.

“This would be at a lower frequency and a much higher operating cost than the proposed Parkway Station on the existing line which would also serve air passengers to and from Harrogate,Knaresborough and York.”

The international airport, which is currently visited by 3.3 million passengers a year and could expand to nine million a year, requires the rail link to help boost its growth.