Bradford's cross-rail link is 'too expensive' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Business leaders make new appeal for line to join two Bradford train stations
8:10am Friday 16th July 2010 in News By Clive White
City Hall’s regeneration chief Barra Mac Ruairi
Reviving a campaign to develop a cross-city rail link between Forster Square station and Bradford Interchange could jeopardise projects already in the pipeline, a regeneration meeting was told yesterday.
City Hall’s regeneration chief Barra Mac Ruairi said priority must continue to be given to projects such as the City Park and the Westfield Broadway shopping centre.
He was responding to a plea by Andrew Mason, managing director of Newmason Properties, for the Bradford cross-rail project to be revived.
It was shelved in 1989 following a review which concluded it was unlikely to generate enough passengers, would be visually intrusive and too expensive to run.
Mr Mason was addressing a Bradford Regeneration Summit focusing on transport and connectivity which was held at Leeds City College in Keighley.
Mr Ruairi said: “I welcome the passion but in these austere times we need to make sure we can deliver projects like Westfield.
“We need to pull these present projects together. I want to continue the course and the efforts we have made and not lose the opportunity we have before us.”
He said 25 officers in his department had spent many hours investigating the potential of the cross-link, including scrutinising the site, after being approached by Mr Mason.
It was concluded that the scheme was feasible but expensive and the transport and economic benefits were only small.
A major factor was the estimated cost of a new scheme which since 1989 had risen from £30 million to £140 million, he said.
Mr Mason argued that a link would transform the city.
He said: “If we want to increase the number of people coming to this city and we want the economy to flourish we must do more. If we want to change this city centre and create jobs and put life back into this place we must put a station at the heart of the city.”
He was backed by Roger Owen, a Bradford City director and former board member of Morrisons supermarket.
The summit also focussed on how to make roads safer in the city, on transport infrastructure between Bradford and Leeds and rail links to London Workshops were held on the transport plan and on flexible and sustainable travel choices.
Comments(15)
Joedavid
says...
8:58am Fri 16 Jul 10
caribouk
says...
8:58am Fri 16 Jul 10
Collos
says...
9:05am Fri 16 Jul 10
Helter Skelter
says...
9:45am Fri 16 Jul 10
Collos wrote:totally agree !! never looked at the 'lake' as a folly but I couldnt have put it better myself. Part of Bradford's downfall over many years is only having branch lines supplying the city.
Business people want the cross city link most of the population want it but lets put a lake in front of the town hall instead.Anything pro active that will help the city the council in whatever form stops it but goes ahead with expensive follies.
markjoe
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9:46am Fri 16 Jul 10
Joedavid
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9:48am Fri 16 Jul 10
puddin
says...
10:09am Fri 16 Jul 10
Joedavid wrote:And how are you getting to Leeds, by car ,pushbike or walking Bradford needs the cross-link much more than hotels, a canal and a big pool.
Get the trains in Leeds better train services and cheaper.
mad matt
says...
10:38am Fri 16 Jul 10
There is far too much reliance on road transport - too much polution and gridlock. Why can't this country take the bull by the horns and put money into local, reliable, flexible AFFORDABLE rail transport
eebygum
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11:22am Fri 16 Jul 10
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
11:39am Fri 16 Jul 10
Maybe if the economic benefits were nil, it might be given the go ahead.
Like the £3m bridge we don't need or want.
Like the £24m park we don't need or want.
Like the wages of our councils regeneration staff, who we clearly don't need or want or see a reason what they do for their money.
mad matt
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12:14pm Fri 16 Jul 10
bcfc1903
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2:25pm Fri 16 Jul 10
thinking from those paid handsomely to lead our City forward soul destroying.
mickcbcfc
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12:04am Sat 17 Jul 10
but alass bradford council want a mirror pool. sad as we are a big city. got 2 big clubs bradford city and bradford bulls.
the infrastructure to this once great and i say once is via the M606.
waisted monies on the mirror pool and the doomed westfield sites should in hind sight spent on the link to open bradford up via passenger and frieght reducing costs to local and national buisnesses havin to go via leeds. and im bradford born and bred. i want out of this dead end city. no prospects. just doom and gloom.
i an ashamed to be a bradfordian. and i was once a public figure in this city as a top dj. glad im not now.
bcfc1903
says...
1:11am Sun 18 Jul 10
The Odeon Crusader says...
8:43am Fri 16 Jul 10