Target date set to re-open Bradford’s Interchange bus station

A target date of January 5 2025 has been set for the reopening of Bradford Interchange bus station, following months of disruption.

The bus station was closed for public safety reasons in January of this year, due to some pieces of concrete falling in its basement. This has caused significant inconvenience to bus users in the city.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority says it is working “at pace” to bring the facility back into operation ahead of a final decision on reopening, which will be made by members next week.

Rail passengers will be able to use the lower concourse of the Interchange from midday on 28 October as part of a phased reopening of the wider structure.

Following initial findings from structural surveys, the Combined Authority says it has been reassured that the bus Interchange could safely reopen with mitigation measures in place. It adds these findings have been backed by an independent expert.

Preparations for reactivating the bus station are already underway, including health and safety checks, staff training, deep cleaning and relocating the travel centre back to the bus station.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “I’m glad to see progress being made on our plan to safely reopen the bus station as soon as we can.

“In the meantime, access to and from the rail station will be made easier before the end of the month.”

Due to the need to complete carriageway waterproofing works which were underway before the Interchange closed, six bus stands out of a total 29 will stay out of action until at least April 2025, meaning some services will remain on-street until that time.

Which services will return is not yet confirmed, but the Combined Authority says it will communicate with passengers and the public when this is known.

Real time information will also be unavailable until at least February, while new bus timetables are being developed for services moving back to the Interchange.