Airport rail link 'could cost £25m'

11:33pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

A state-of-the-art rail link to Leeds-Bradford Airport would be feasible at a cost of between £17m and £25m, a new report has revealed.

Transport chiefs are set to be updated on plans to introduce tram-trains in the Bradford district and across the wider Leeds City Region.

A newly-released report by consultants Arup, set to go before Metro's Rail Working Group tomorrow, outlines the feasibility of introducing tram-trains on the following routes: lLeeds - Harrogate - York lHorsforth - Leeds-Bradford Airport - Guiseley lBradford Forster Square - Guiseley lLeeds - Lower Aire Valley - Five Towns lFive Towns - Wakefield.

The draft findings of Arup's research, part-funded by Leeds-Bradford Airport, said a link between the airport and the Harrogate line would be feasible at an estimated cost of between £17m and £25m.

The report said: "A link between Leeds-Bradford Airport and the Harrogate line would provide a direct connection from the airport to Leeds city centre.

"The provision of a link between Guiseley and Bradford Forster Square is likely to require doubling of the single track section between Shipley and Esholt East to facilitate tram-train operation."

Editor's choice