A PUBLIC transport group has urged figures in local and national government to “save” a disused stretch of rail line that goes to auction later this month.

The Wortley Curve in Leeds will go under the hammer at an online auction with a £15,000 guide price.

The line was shut in 1985, and in recent years there have been calls to reopen it – which local transport bosses say could slash journey times between Bradford and Wakefield.

The closure meant many services to and from Bradford have to go via Leeds Rail Station.

Last month Railway Paths Ltd, a charity that owns and manages former railway land, listed the three-acre Wortley Curve site in an online auction.

It says the land “could be suitable for a variety of future uses.”

The listing has raised concerns, with the Yimby Alliance, a campaign to create better and more affordable housing across the UK, posting on Social Media site X “Why are we selling off for £15,000 a short stretch of disused connecting rail track that could be crucial for improving transport in West Yorkshire?”

The situation has sparked a strong reaction on social media. Among those raising their concerns was Brynley Heaven, who posted on X to say the sale would effectively create a “nationally significant ransom strip” adding: “Ways must be found to get Wortley Curve into responsible ownership.”

And now the English Regional Transport Association has raised concerns about the sale, and written to West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bradford and Leeds Councils urging them to step in.

The letter says: “The English Regional Transport Association have been made aware that the disused stretch of railway line on the outskirts of Leeds known as the Wortley Curve is up for auction in January with a guide price of £15,000.

“The Wortley Curve links Bradford directly with Wakefield avoiding the overcrowded Leeds City Station.

“The ERTA believes as a strategic rail route the link is worth much more to the economy of West Yorkshire than £15,000.

“Today we have written to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, the CEOs of both Bradford and Leeds City Councils asking them to save the route.

“We have also written to the Prime Minister asking him to make good on the promise he made at the Conservative Party Conference of investing in Transport Projects here in the North after cancelling HS2.”

A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority confirmed they had received the latter, and said: “We have a number of projects in development, and we continue to monitor various parcels of land which might help deliver on our ambitions to create a better-connected region.”

The Auction begins on January 30 and can be found at https://www.pugh-auctions.com/property/34640