CROWDS gathered for the official opening of the new £10.8 million Low Moor railway station this morning.

Around 500,000 passengers a year are expected to use the new station, which actually saw its first trains for more than 50 years yesterday.

The station is the third to open within the Leeds City Region area within the last 14 months, following Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge.

Northern Rail services to Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Manchester, and York, will call at the station with four Grand Central trains per day also providing direct links with London King Cross.

More than 100 people climbed aboard the first two trains to stop at the station yesterday morning, and local councillor Sarah Ferriby (Lab,Wyke) labelled the occasion a "great day for Low Moor and Bradford South."

Ward councillors were again in attendance this morning, enjoying entertainment provided by a five-piece band, along with Judith Cummins, Labour MP for Bradford South, and representatives from Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The authority is currently pressing for an upgrade and electrification of the Calder Valley route through Low Moor, in addition to the planned electrification of the Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester Trans-Pennine line.

Bradford also recently unveiled its #NextStopBradford campaign to secure a Northern Powerhouse Rail HS3 station in the city centre.