BUSINESS leaders, rail groups and councillors have backed a report which says there is a good case for the HS3 route to come through Bradford.

HS3, also known as Northern Powerhouse Rail, would see a new 30-minute link created between Manchester and Leeds, rather than the current 49-minute journey, with trains reaching speeds of up to 125mph.

Now a West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) report, to be discussed at its meeting on Thursday, has called on Transport for the North (TfN), a consortium of transport authorities across the north of England working on the Chancellor’s Northern Powerhouse project, to include additional stops in its plans, including one in Bradford city centre or a “parkway-type” facility which could serve Bradford or elsewhere.

The report said: “The evidence points to it being located in Bradford and, in particular, in Bradford city centre based on regeneration opportunities and benefits to the economy and the labour market.

“Further high-level feasibility work has been approved by Transport Committee to explore and establish options to accommodate an NPR stop in Bradford as well as at a Parkway-type facility that could serve both Bradford and other centres.”

Working alongside TfN and Network Rail, this work will consider the options of how the rail network in and around Bradford may need to be re-configured to help provide a best accessibility possible into neighbouring districts into a Bradford-based NRP station.

This proposal has been welcomed by business leaders and officials in Bradford and have welcomed the decision to discuss it in more detail.

Andy Caton, president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said there is a strong case for the city to be served by a stop, bringing extra benefits to residents and businesses.

He said: “The chamber has been working closely with the council to ensure that consideration is given to looking at whether the HS3 route should come through Bradford.

“We therefore welcome the Combined Authority’s decision to consider this in more detail and we hope that the conclusion will be that WYCA endorses our view.

“We recognise that there’s much more work to be done, to look at the cost-benefit analysis, a precise route, but it would be good to think that the city and wider district would be served by this new line.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “We’re pleased at the growing consensus in the city region for a Bradford stop and the economic evidence will be presented to transport for the north and the department of transport in due course.

“In the meantime, a further study looking at how an NPR station would fit into the city centre and how it could link into Bradford’s existing rail network and the economic benefits this could bring is due to start shortly.”

James Vasey, chairman of the Bradford Rail Users’ Group, said: “The station needs to be in the city centre.

“It it comes into Bradford it would be absolutely fantastic, but if it was on the outskirts of the city centre, it would not feel the benefit.”

Tim Calow, chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users' Group, added: "It wouid be of substantial benefit for Bradford to be included in the plans for HS3.

"Bradford is probably the second largest city in Yorkshire after Leeds."