SIR - I read with interest about the proposed highspeed rail project for Bradford. Firstly, these plans are at an embryonic stage and no formal details have been released. Secondly, little reference has been made to the ‘parkway option’ which could refer to the re-opening of the Laisterdyke to West Bowling curve with a new station just off Wakefield Road. This route was protected in the early 1990s and its reopening would offer a substantial time saving for the Caldervale route linking Leeds to Manchester and Blackpool. The sweetener for Bradford could then be a rebuilt Interchange combined with electrification to Leeds/Halifax. A dedicated bus link and extension of the cycle superhighway could also form part of these plans.

Tunnelling under or bridging over the city centre would be expensive and no ‘future proof’ provision was made to The Broadway for such a scheme. It is also worth remembering that Manchester’s Ordsall Chord took decades to come to fruition and further plans for new through platforms at Piccadilly have stalled in recent months. These are smaller schemes compared to Bradford Crossrail which would take a substantial amount of finance and political will to achieve. Unfortunately, at this time, all the money is being poured into London and Crossrail.

Jim Rayner, Reed Walk, Colchester