The site of a long-awaited rail station in Bradford is seeing a flurry of activity.

Site cabins, heavy machinery and structures are at Low Moor, where an £8.9 million station is set to open in 2015.

Network Rail is replacing an old footbridge, but recent bad weather has hit schedules.

A spokesman said: “We are replacing a ‘life-expired’ footbridge with a new structure.

“The old one was removed, then there was a slight delay to the programme because of weather conditions. Work is planned to restart this weekend and complete in mid-March.”

Ward Councillor David Robinson (Ind, Wyke) said: “It’s all systems go for the station now.”

The scheme has been on the agenda since 2000. Last October, residents heard that the last major obstacle – concerning track curvature – was being solved.

It had been feared that straightening the track to meet safe train-to-platform stepping distances could prove too costly.

But a Network Rail study said the distances could be achieved with ‘very minor adjustments’.

Metro, which is working with Network Rail on the project, aims to submit a formal planning application for the station to Bradford Council ‘in the very near future’.

An initial one-train-per-hour service is planned, but it is hoped extra trains can be provided at peak periods.

Coun Robinson said the only remaining issue to be dealt with is around land which is needed for the scheme. “The firm which owns the land has gone into administration,” he said. “We are trying to acquire the land from administrators, but, if necessary, there will be a compulsory purchase order.

“The residents can’t wait for this to come to fruition. We don’t have a station yet, but there is already a Friends of Low Moor Station group!”