Kirkstall Forge station on track for June opening

TRAINS could start calling at the new Kirkstall Forge station next month if the rail authorities give the green light.

With construction work largely complete, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with its partners Leeds City Council, site developer CEG, train operator Northern and Network Rail, are awaiting approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to open the station to passengers.

The station could open from Sunday June 19, although this date will be brought forward if it is possible to do so, the Council said.

 

The ORR is the regulator for health and safety across the whole mainline rail network in Britain, as well as London Underground, light rail, trams and the heritage sector.

Kirkstall Forge Station will provide people with links to work and leisure opportunities in Leeds, as well as bring people to the wider Kirkstall Forge development.

It also aims to reduce existing congestion and improve journey reliability along the A65.

Building work has started at the Kirkstall Forge development, with the first building due for completion in 2017.

Eventually, the 57-acre development will comprise around 1,000 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of offices, 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space and create around 2,400 new jobs.

Kirkstall Forge is the second new station to be opened recently, following Apperley Bridge in December 2015.

A new station at Low Moor, between Bradford Interchange and Halifax, is due to open later this year, while the Leeds Station Southern Entrance, which gives passengers at Leeds Station direct access to the area south of the River Aire, opened in January.

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