THE long-awaited new £10million Low Moor railway station in Bradford will open next month - after more than 15 years of campaigning.

The first train to call at Low Moor for more than 50 years will be the 8.30am service to Halifax on Sunday April 2, said a delighted campaigner.

James Vasey, chairman of Bradford Rail Users Group (BRUG) added: “It is absolutely fantastic news. It is something to absolutely celebrate, and to be really proud of the work that the Friends of Low Moor group have done and for people for sticking by it. There was always speculation to whether it would open, and now it is just two weekends away from opening.”

BRUG has campaigned since 2001 for a station to re-open in Low Moor. The previous station closed in 1965.

Mr Vasey said: “We have had many meetings and have been waiting quite a while. There are people who have fought for it and campaigned for it, and never actually believed it would happen - and probably still don’t until that first train actually appears!”

Mr Vasey said the new station would bring benefits to Low Moor, including a direct Grand Central service to London.

He said: “There will be new travelling opportunities for people to come into Low Moor. More people will want to live in Low Moor because it has now got fantastic travel links. It will take vehicles off the roads and get people onto the trains.”

A ceremony to mark the opening of the new station will be held on April 3 at 10.30am.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive member for transport, said: “I’m delighted Low Moor station is opening soon. It will bring a host of benefits to Bradford and the surrounding region.

“It’s good news for commuters, businesses, the wider economy, air quality and will also help to reduce the number of vehicles using congested roads.

“The new stations at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge have proved extremely popular and I expect the same result from Low Moor. Once the planned Northern Connect programme begins in 2019 I will be keen to see more services using Low Moor and the rest of the local rail network.”