Transport chiefs are confident a new railway station will be built at Apperley Bridge, despite the Government halving the cost of its contribution to the major scheme to £10.3 million.

A new bid for the money has been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) for the new station off Apperley Lane, with a decision expected by the end of this year.

Metro, the West Yorkshire integrated transport authority, in partnership with Network Rail, Northern Rail and Bradford Council, put in the revised bid – from £20.5 million – after the Government announced cuts to regional transport funding.

The new bid will mean local authorities having to stump up 40 per cent of the cost of the new Apperley Bridge station. Private businesses, understood to include the rail operators and housing developers, will also have to contribute £5 million.

Bradford Councillor Mike Ellis, spokesman for Metro, said: “I think that, what the Government has said, is to have a look at this scheme, sharpen your pencil and come up with a scheme for less money.

“There is always doubt when we are talking about Government grants, but there should be a lot of finance available for the new station. We confidently expect it to go ahead.”

The proposed station is part of a regional Rail Growth Package to tackle road congestion and encourage more people to use public transport.

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