UK confirms new Bradford station as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail

The UK government has confirmed plans for a new railway station in Bradford, to be built on the site of the current Bradford Interchange.

The announcement was set out on 20 October 2026. The government said the new station at Bradford Interchange will bring passengers more reliable services, better connections and faster journeys, according to its press release. UK Government

The station will form part of Northern Powerhouse Rail, a long-running programme to improve rail links across the north of England. It will allow through trains to run between Leeds and Manchester via Bradford, rather than requiring services to terminate in the city. It is expected to be built by the mid-2030s. The Guardian

The Department for Transport said Northern Powerhouse Rail would provide a turn-up-and-go railway for Bradford passengers, with trains running frequently enough that passengers would not need to check timetables. Bradford Council estimated the new station, alongside a proposed West Yorkshire mass transit network, will bring more than £1bn in economic benefits.

Work on Northern Powerhouse Rail is planned in stages. In January 2026, the government said the programme would be delivered in three stages with a funding cap of £45bn, which could be supplemented by local contributions. The early work will focus on improving existing lines around Yorkshire, including connections between Sheffield and Leeds, Leeds and York, and Leeds and Bradford. That first phase is likely to involve electrification of lines.

The wider scheme includes plans for a new line between Liverpool and Manchester. It was first promised by the Conservatives in 2014. The Treasury did not approve a proposed new underground station for Manchester Piccadilly as part of the scheme.