POLITICIANS from across the North descended on Bradford today to discuss ways to boost the area’s rail network.

Before members of Transport for the North met, they were presented with a number of postcards written by the young people of Bradford, detailing the improvements they want to see in the district’s transport links.

And the issues facing the city were summed up by the fact that while the TFN members were debating pricey programmes such as rail electrification and high speed rail, visitors to one of Bradford’s main rail stations were greeted by a door that had been broken for several days.

The entrance to Forster Square Station on Cheapside has been blocked off, with a crude sign stuck to it saying: “Doors broken.”

People wanting to access the station have to take a detour of several minutes to enter via the access near the Midland Hotel.

It also means that the lift access to the station is closed off, and has been for several days.

The TFN meeting, held in Bradford City Hall, was attended by Northern politicians including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Leader of Leeds City Council Judith Blake.

They heard updates on two separate rail reviews, the Black Jones Review and the Williams Review, both of which will shape delivery of rail services in the North.

The Williams Review is a ‘root and branch’ review of rail is described as the most significant since privatisation, and will consider “ambitious recommendations for all aspects of the industry”.

Findings and recommendations are expected to be published in a Government White Paper in autumn 2019. Reform is expected to begin in 2020.

Members spoke of how important it was for the group to have a strong voice on rail plans for the North, so that they had a say in what happened rather than just having central Government dictate the future of Northern rail travel.

Cllr Blake said the rail chaos of last year showed the need for better communication between politicians and rail providers. She added it was important that the Department of Transport provided resources, as well as devolved powers to the North, adding: “It is no good them giving us responsibility without also giving us the means to do what is needed to be done.”

Mr Burnham raised some concerns that although the group was attempting to speak with one voice, different regions may have different ideas of what the ideal rail network looked like.

He said: “My worry is we might end up with different views of devolution - the Transport for the North view and the view of our various city regions.

“We need to make sure we don’t let that happen. We need to put all the pieces of the jigsaw together before we come forward with a case that might conflict with what we all want at a city level.”