New designs unveiled for £30m plan to transform railway station

Plans to transform Halifax Railway Station, funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, have been refined following responses to earlier proposals for the £30m project.

To ensure the station is fit for modern travel and to cope with expected future growth in passenger numbers, Calderdale Council, working with Network Rail, has developed plans to improve the station building and surrounding area.

Proposals include a new two-storey station building, with comfortable waiting lounges on both the ground and first floor level, better toilet facilities and opportunities for additional retail options.

Access to the station will also be enhanced with a modern footbridge providing step-free access to and from the town centre.

An historic underpass beneath the station would also be reopened to improve access to the eastern side of the station.

Further proposals include convenient drop-off facilities, car parking with electric vehicle (EV) charging points and taxi pick-up areas and improved walking and cycling facilities, including upgraded bike storage.

The building design features climate-friendly measures, including solar panels, ‘green’ roof and low-carbon heating, to support the council’s work to reduce carbon emissions in the borough.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and strategy, Councillor Jane Scullion, said: “These ambitious plans will transform the rail station and provide a welcoming gateway to the town.

“Major improvements are planned to both the look and layout of the building and surrounding area, which will also bring wider benefits and support better connections across the region.

“The passenger experience is at the heart of our plans, with much-needed access improvements and upgraded waiting facilities.

“The proposals also complement wider regeneration plans for Halifax, creating a seamless route from town centre attractions to the station.”

 Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Making public transport work for people and tackling the climate emergency on our way to becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038 are at the heart of my Mayoral pledges.

“Transforming Halifax Rail Station will not only help us do that, it will also connect more local people with jobs, education and training.

“A better and more inclusive transport network goes beyond getting people from A to B.  It is about getting all of us — our people, our communities, our businesses - to where we want to be as a region.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee and leader of Bradford Council, added: “We are pleased to be working with Calderdale Council on this important scheme and I would encourage everyone to make the most of this opportunity to help shape the plans by taking part in the public consultation.”

Latest plans can be viewed at https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hrs where there is also a survey for people to have their say.

The survey is open until Sunday 16 January 2022. Following the closing date, all feedback will be considered ahead of the planning application submission in 2022.

The Halifax Rail Station improvement scheme has received more than £30m from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) and West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund (WY+TF) programmes.